#WrestleIstanbul

U17 World Championships offers glimpse of future stars

By Vinay Siwach

ISTANBUL, Turkiye (July 26) -- Beginning next week, future wrestling stars will be on show at the U17 World Championships in Istanbul, with the US, Iran, and Japan hoping to defend their team titles in Freestyle, Greco-Roman, and women’s wrestling, respectively.

The US has been a top nation at the age-group tournament in recent years, finishing second in 2021 and clinching the title in 2022 in Rome. Iran, traditionally a wrestling hotbed, may have slipped in Freestyle but has dominated Greco-Roman. Once again, it will be the favorite for the team title. Japan, undoubtedly the best in women’s wrestling, will be the country to beat in Istanbul.

But as trends show in recent years, these formidable nations will face stiff challenges from India, Azerbaijan, Turkey, Georgia, and the AIN team, which comprises neutral wrestlers. India has been on the heels of the top nations in Freestyle and women’s wrestling, winning the title in 2021 and finishing second last year. In women’s wrestling, it has finished second in the last two editions. Georgia has won the Greco team title in 2021 while Azerbaijan has finished second in 2019 and 2022.

Here’s a detailed per-style breakdown of the U17 World Championships, which will be live from July 31 on uww.org and the UWW App, which will have all the news, results, and interviews. All photos can be accessed at photo.uww.org.

Greco-Roman

Iran may be the defending team champions, but the home country, Turkiye, will be cheering for Cemal Bakir (TUR), the defending gold medalist at 110kg.

Bakir was dominant in Rome, winning the gold by outscoring his opponents 28-2 in four bouts, three of which ended after Bakir's technical superiority. He will also get a chance to avenge his 2023 U17 European Championships 5-3 loss to Saba Chilashvili (GEO).

Besides the two, the 110kg weight class will see all four of the U17 Asian medalists, including gold medalist Amirhossein ABDEVALI (IRI), silver medalist Bekzhan ISMAGULOV (KAZ), and the two bronze medalists Talasbek BOOBEKOV (KGZ) and RONAK (IND).

Nicholas SAHAKIAN (USA), who won the U17 Pan-Am title in both Freestyle and Greco-Roman, will look to make a mark at the world level as well.

The host nation will also have big hopes, especially from U17 European bronze medalist Mehmet SARP (TUR) at 45kg and 55kg U17 European silver medalist Halil CINAR (TUR), who finished fifth at the 2022 U17 World Championships.

Defending team champion Iran is bringing four continental champions, including Abdevali. The others are Mohammad MOHMADI (IRI) at 51kg, Mohammadreza GHOLAMI (IRI) at 55kg, and Aliakbar ASGHARI (IRI) at 92kg. Iran also has Payam AHMADI BALOOTAKI (IRI), who was a bronze medalist in the 45kg category last year but is moving up to 48kg.

Gholami will be the favorite to win the gold in Istanbul, but he will be challenged by Aytjan KHALMAKHANOV (UZB), the gold medalist at 51kg in 2022. Khalmakhanov finished with bronze at the U17 Asian Championships after suffering a semifinal loss to SURAJ (IND), the U17 world champion from Rome. Suraj lost to Gholami in the final but will be in Istanbul seeking revenge. Add to the list Maxim Sarmanov (MDA), who finished second at the U17 Euros.

Apart from Khalmakhanov, Uzbekistan will also have U17 Asian champion Shakhzod RUZIOKHUNOV (UZB) competing at 48kg, a year after winning the silver medal at 45kg. Three other wrestlers from 2022 are also jumping from 45kg to 48kg, including Balootaki and two fifth placers — Ionut Mereuta (ROU) and Beknur Mukan (KAZ).

Murat KHATIT (AIN) could well be the runaway star at 48kg after he won the U17 Euros with two falls and two technical superiority wins. Iuri CHAPIDZE (GEO) and Petro ZHYTOVOZ (HUN), the only two wrestlers who scored points on Khatit before getting pinned, are entered as well.

Kiryl VALEUSKI (AIN) will be the favorite to win the 60kg weight class as he won the U17 European Championships in dominating fashion. But Saba SURMANIDZE (GEO) will be hoping to get his hands on Valeuski and avenge his U17 European final loss.

All four 51kg European medalists -- Ilia KANDALIN (AIN), Peter TOTOK (HUN), Ali SEYIDALILI (AZE) and Koba KARUMIDZE (GEO) -- are entered. Similarly, all four European medalists at 65kg -- Petros ASHKARYAN (ARM), Giorgi TCHIKAIDZE (GEO), Constantin LUNGU (ROU) and Zaur BESLEKOEV (AIN) -- are also registered.

Abdurakhman ABDULKADYROV (AIN) and Yryskeldi KHAMZAEV (KGZ) at 71kg, Stanislaw FUSSY (POL), Szabolcs SZINAY (HUN) and Adam WATERS (USA) at 80kg, Saba PURTSELADZE (GEO), Asghari, Saipula GADZHIMAGOMEDOV (AIN) and Sardorbek RUSTAMOV (UZB) at 92kg will be a few other stars to keep an eye on.

Women's Wrestling

Four gold medallists are returning in a bid to add a second U17 world title to their resume and will be the favorites as well.

India, which finished second in the team race, has two returning champions — MUSKAN (IND) and SAVITA (IND).

Muskan won the world title at 40kg but she will be at 46kg in Istanbul. It will be interesting to see how she fares in the new weight class given the challenges that come with new weight. Savita will be defending her gold medal at 61kg, a weight class she won in dominating fashion in Rome.

Savita won U17 continental title in June and will spearhead an Indian team that also includes U17 Asian champions RACHNA (IND), PARVEEN (IND), NEHA (IND), SHIKSHA  (IND), SRISHTI (IND) and KAJAL (IND). Muskan won silver at 46kg in Asia.

But can this team, which won the title in Asia, beat Japan for the title at the world level will be the biggest question.

Japan, considered the best nation in women’s wrestling, sent its second string to Asia but a top squad will be in Istanbul. It will be led by returning champion at 57kg Sowaka UCHIDA (JPN). If Uchida’s 2022 run is anything to go by, she will be the favorite to win the gold again.

2022 U17 world silver medalist Mona EZAKA (JPN) at 43kg, 2022 U20 Asia silver Natsumi MASUDA (JPN) will be at 46kg and trailblazer Rinka OGAWA (JPN) at 49kg will help Japan towards defending the title.

The 53kg weight class will be a real test for all the wrestlers at that weight as 49kg U17 world champ Ruzanna MAMMADOVA (AZE) is jumping up. So is bronze medalist Fabiana RINELLA (ITA). But the favorite will be returning silver medalist Sakura ONISHI (JPN) who was seconds away from winning the gold in 2022. She suffered a heartbreaking 3-1 loss to Mariia YEFREMOVA (UKR) in the final as she tried a desperate move and got whizzed while trailing 1-1 on criteria.

Japan will also bank on Chisato YOSHIDA (JPN) as she is making a remarkable drop from 69kg to 65kg. She lost to Harshita MOR (IND) in the final at 69kg last year. Though Mor is not there, Yoshida still needs to through Shiksha and U17 European champion Duygu GEN (TUR) and silver Margarita SALNAZARIAN (AIN).

Konami ONO (JPN) will take the spot at 61kg and look to challenge Savita along with Ekaterina RADYSHEVA (AIN) who won the U17 European gold.

At 69kg, returning bronze Veronika VILK (CRO) will be looking for gold as she won the U17 Euros as well, winning her four bouts in Tirana via fall. She will be the favorite to win the title but can have a tough time against Srishti, Japan champion Ai SAKAI (JPN), U17 Euro silver Elif KURT (TUR) and Jasmine ROBINSON (USA) who lost to Vilk in the quarterfinal last year after leading.

Other U17 European champions in action will be Klara WINKLER (GER) at 40kg, Aleksandra BEREZOVSKAIA (AIN) at 43kg, Sviatlana KATENKA (AIN) at 49kg, Fabiana RINELLA (ITA) at 53kg, and Ekaterina RADYSHEVA (AIN) at 61kg.

At 73kg, Kajal will be the favorite along with U17 Euro silver Aliaksandra KAZLOVA (AIN) and Lotta ENGLICH (GER), a bronze medalist from 2022. Piper FOWLER (USA) and Asaloy AMANGELDIEVA (UZB) will be the dark horses in the race.

Freestyle

For the last two editions of the U17 World Championships, India and the US have been involved in a tight race for the title with both nations exchanging titles in 2021 and 2022.

The US is bringing two of its medalist, Christian CASTILLO (USA) and Zackary RYDER (USA), from 2022 while India has one returning bronze medalist in Jaspooran SINGH (IND).

Both the US and India dominated their respective continental championships with the former winning six gold medals and four silvers while India won one gold and four silver.

Azerbaijan, which was a close third in 2022, also has a solid squad led by U17 European champion Jafar JAFAROV (AZE). Haji KARIMOV (AZE), Jamal ABBASOV (AZE) and Yusif DURSUNOV (AZE) also won gold at the U17 European Championships and will be in Istanbul. It also boasts of Bashir VERDIYEV (AZE) who was a silver medalist in Rome at 45kg but is jumping to 48kg in a bid to win a gold at the U17 world level.

Armenia won the team title in Tirana and has medalists in Sasha PETROSYAN (ARM), Samvel GEVORGYAN (ARM), Vladimir AZARYAN (ARM), Narek NIKOGHOSYAN (ARM), Razmik YEPREMYAN (ARM) and Henrik HAYKYAN (ARM).

Iran will hope to rebound from a disastrous 2022 tournament in which it won only one gold medal. At the U17 Asian Championships, Iran won six gold medals and a similar run will be expected from it at the U17 World Championships.

Castillo will look to upgrade his silver from 2022 to gold but for that, he will need to wrestle a bunch of top wrestlers including U17 European champion Giorgi MAISURADZE (GEO) and Petrosyan who was silver to Maisuradze. ROHIT (IND), the silver medalist at U17 Asia, is also entered.

For Ryder to win gold at 80kg, he will have fellow 2022 bronze medalist and now U17 European champion Alexandru BORS (MDA) and 71kg bronze medalist Yepremyan who was second to Bors in Europe. Abolfazl RAHMANI FIROUZJAEI (IRI) and Saurabh YADAV (IND) can also cause a few roadblocks.

While the two will be critical in helping the US defend the team title, it will also bank on Marcus BLAZE (USA) at 55kg, Benjamin DAVINO (USA) at 60kg who beat last year's silver Jax FORREST (USA) to make the US team, and Aoeden SINCLAIR (USA) at 92kg. Sinclair, who is coached by Ben ASKREN (USA), who will be in Istanbul, lost to Ryder in national selection trials last year.

Davino will look to contribute to the race and for that, he will have to beat a solid field. He will be joined by European champion Abassov and Asian champion Omurbek ASAN UULU (KGZ) and silver medalist Sajad PIRDAYEH (IRI) and Japan's national champion Akito MAEHARA (JPN).

India's only U17 Asian champion ANKUSH (IND) will try to keep the trend of India winning at least one Freestyle gold at the U17 Worlds since 2021 going. He will face Akhmad MUSAKHADZHIEV (AIN) who was fifth at the 2021 U17 Worlds, European finalists Karimov and Gevorgyan, Amirreza TEYMORIZAD (IRI) who he defeated in the Asian final and Blaze.

Azerbaijan looks good to dethrone others and win the team title, banking on Verdiyev, Jafarov, Karimov, Abassov and Dursunov.

Verdiyev's path to 48kg gold will go through Gegi ONIANI (GEO) who defeated Verdiyev at U17 Euros 3-3. He will also face U17 Asian finalists RUPESH (IND) and Sam Reza SAYAR (IRI).

Jafarov needs to find his form again as he, at 45kg, faces Asian finalists Ahora KHATERI (IRI) and Dhanraj SHIRKE (IND), Ebubekir GUR (TUR) who scored six points on him in U17 Europeans and 2021 U17 Pan-Am champ Ignacio VILLASENOR (USA).

At 110kg, Dursunov has to negotiate Henrik HAYKYAN (ARM) who he beat in the Euro final and two bronze medalists Aleksandre ABRAMISHVILI (GEO) and Rusen GULER (TUR). U17 Asian champion Yedige KASSIMBEK (KAZ) will be his biggest threat along with returning bronze Singh. Sampson STILLWELL (USA) and U17 Asia silver Abolfazl NEZHAD (IRI) will fancy their chances to beat Dursunov.

#WrestleParis

Paris 2024 Wrestling: Dake dominates, Zare vs Akgul in semis

By Ken Marantz & Vinay Siwach

PARIS (August 9) -- The Paris Olympics is closing towards its end but wrestling is still in full swing here at Champs de Mars Arena. Freestyle action in 74kg and 125kg and Women's Wrestling 62kg. In the evening session, Olympic champions will be crowned in Freestyle 57kg and 86kg and Women's Wrestling 57kg.

LIVE MATCH ORDER | PARIS 2024 DAY 4

13:23: In the final freestyle 74kg quarterfinal, Razambek JAMALOV (UZB) prevails in a thriller 6-5 when Chermen VALIEV (ALB) is assessed two penalty points for fleeing in the final seconds, the second one coming on an Uzbekistan challenge after time expired. Jamalov leads 3-2 in the second period when Valiev gets a stepout and takedown for a 5-3 lead. Jamalov gets a stepout with 1:05 left, then goes on the offensive, resulting in the first fleeing penalty. That still leaves him behind on big-point criteria, and his late aggressiveness pays off when the challenge gives him the winning point.

13:14: Sakura MOTOKI (JPN) had her hands full with Ana GODINEZ (CAN) in their women's 62kg quarterfinal, but once she got the lace lock in the second period, it was all over for the Canadian. Limited to an activity point and running out of time on a late takedown attempt in the first period, Motoki finally struck with a single-leg takedown. She then wrapped up the ankles and reeled off four rolls for an 11-0 win.

13:09: Viktor RASSADIN (TJK) earns his place in the freestyle 74kg semifinals, jumping out to a 5-0 lead and holding on for a 7-4 victory over Feng LU (CHN).

13:05: Grace BULLEN (NOR) will not be denied. She starts with a 4-p0int takedown, applies the lace lock and three rolls later, she eliminates Luisa NIEMESCH (GER) with a 10-0 victory in 1:15 to advance to the women's 62kg semifinals.

13:01: Iryna KOLIADENKO (UKR) gets a shot to avenge a loss to Tynybekova in the women's 62kg semifinals in Tokyo when she gets a 4-point takedown in the first period en route to a 7-3 victory over Bilyana DUDOVA (BUL).

12:58: Daichi TAKATANI (JPN) glides into the freestyle 74kg semifinals in spectacular fashion, lifting Hetik CABOLOV (SRB) onto his shoulders and executing a balletic 4-point throw to cap a 10-0 victory with :19 left in the first period. Takatani had already scored two takedowns, adding an exposure after the second and nearly ending it with a fall.

12:53: After his high Mason PARRIS (USA), Lkhagvagerel MUNKHTUR (MGL) cannot hold the fort against Giorgi MESHVILDISHVILI (AZE) and drops 12-2. He will face Geno PETRIASHVILI (GEO) in the 125kg semifinals.

12:52: Kyle DAKE (USA) looks on a mission as he manhandles Yones EMAMI (IRI), buildling up a 9-1 lead before using a counter lift to put Iranian on his back and securing a fall to advance to the freestyle 74kg semifinals. Dake scored three takedowns with a single leg in which he lits the leg high into the air and trips Emami to the mat.

12:52: Are we seeing another 'miracle' in women's wrestling? Kayla MIRACLE (USA) gets an activity point, then picks up a takedown for a 3-0 lead against 62kg favorite Aisuluu TYNYBEKOVA (KGZ). But adversity brings out the best in Tynybekova, and she cuts the lead with a stepout early in the second period, then gets behind and swings Miracle to the mat for a 4-point takedown. An unsuccessful challenge gives Tynybekova a 6-3 lead, but it's still not over. Miracle gets a stepout, then hits a roll through for an exposure in the final seconds. But the 4-point move holds sway for a 6-6 win on criteria that puts Tynybekova into the semifinals.

12:46: Taha AKGUL (TUR) takes his own time to beat Daniel LIGETI (HUN) and he books a semifinal spot against Amir Hossein ZARE (IRI). Both have a 1-1 head-to-head.

12:41: Chermen VALIEV (ALB) gets a stepout with four seconds left, and it's upheld on a challenge to give him a dramatic 4-3 victory over European bronze medalist Turan BAYRAMOV (AZE) for the final spot in the freestyle 74kg quarterfinals.

12:40: Amir Hossein ZARE (IRI) uses four minutes and 16 seconds to beat Amarveer DHESI (CAN) 10-0 and move into the semifinals. He awaits the winner of Taha AKGUL (TUR) and Daniel LIGETI (HUN).

12:39: World silver medalist Sakura MOTOKI (JPN), whose father was an Olympian at Sydney 2000 but did not medal, got her campaign for a place on the women's 62kg podium off to a successful start with a quick fall over Kriszta INCZE (ROU). A takedown and an arm bar and Incze was on her back, with the match ending in 37 seconds.  
      
12:35:
Ana GODINEZ (CAN) defies the home crowd when she holds on for a 5-2 win over Ameline DOUARRE (FRA) at women's 62kg. Godinez gets an activity point and two takedowns in the first period. Douarre energizes the crowd with a second-period takedown, but that will be the end of the scoring.

12:35: Geno PETRIASHVILI (GEO), the returning silver medalist, opens his day with an 11-0 dominance of Oleksandr KHOTSIANIVSKYI (UKR).

12:29: Razembek JAMALOV (UZB) charges to a 6-0 lead, then holds off four-time reigning European champion Taimuraz SALKAZANOV (SVK) for an 11-3 victory in a testy match at freestyle 74kg. It was only 6-3 when Jamalov added a bunch of points in the final seconds.  

12:25: Giorgi MESHVILDISHVILI (AZE) gets going with a 4-0 win over Diaaeldin ABDELMOTTALEB (EGY) and he books his spot in the quarterfinals. In the next match, Robert BARAN (POL) holds off Yusup BATIRMURZAEV (KAZ) 4-1.

12:25: European silver medalist Luisa NIEMESCH (GER) grinds out a 3-0 victory at women's 62kg over Hanbit LEE (KOR), a last-minute reallocation entry into the field. Niemesch scores a takedown while on the activity clock, then adds an activity point in the second. 

12:15: European champion Grace BULLEN (NOR) gets her Olympic debut off to a good start, capping a 12-2 win over Siwar BOUSETA (TUN) with a 4-point takedown at women's 62kg.  

12:15: Feng LU (CHN) allows Amr HUSSEN (EGY) to tie their freestyle 74kg match at 4-all in the first period, but breaks it open in the second with a 10-point surge for a 14-4 victory.

12:08: Orkhon PUREVDORJ (MGL), back in Paris where she won world gold in 2017, won't be leaving with the women's 62kg gold this time. Tokyo bronze medalist Iryna KOLIADENKO (UKR) rallies from a 4-0 deficit in the second period, scoring a takedown and two exposures, then adding another takedown to go ahead 8-4. But it is not over. Purevdorj gets a stepout, then a counter lift with :20 left to cut the gap to one, but Koliadenko holds out for an 8-7 win.

12:04: Former world silver medalist Lkhagvagerel MUNKHTUR (MGL) brings out a huge second period to score a four-pointer and then break Mason PARRIS (USA) in the 125kg 1/8 finals. He beats Parris, who won bronze at the World Championships in 2023, 10-5 and moved into the quarterfinals.

12:03: Russian-born Asian silver medalist Viktor RASSADIN (TJK), looking to give Tajikistan just its second-ever Olympic medal, scores four takedowns in an 8-2 win over Georgios KOUGIOUMTSIDIS (GRE) at freestyle 74kg.

11:56: Bilyana DUDOVA (BUL), the 2021 world champion at 59kg, is nursing a tentative 3-2 lead in the second period against Johanna LINDBORG (SWE) at women's 62kg. Lindborg shoots for the winning takedown, but Dudova hits a 4-point counter. Lindborg forces her out for one, then loses a challenge over the exchange and Dudova walks off an 8-3 winner.

11:53: Yones EMAMI (IRI) needs to expend little energy following his tough preliminary round match at freestyle 74kg with Frank CHAMIZO (ITA), getting the takedown against Bacar NDUM (GBS) and executing four back-and-forth rolls for a 10-0 win in 1:34.

11:50: Rio Olympic champion Taha AKGUL (TUR) begins his quest for his third Olympic medal with an 11-0 win over Jonovan SMITH (PUR). Akgul will take on Ligeti in the quarterfinals of 125kg

11:44: World bronze medalist Daichi TAKATANI (JPN) scores a takedown right to a roll to finish up a 10-0 victory over Geandry GARZON (CUB) at freestyle 74kg. Takatani is trying to get the medal that eluded older brother Sohsuke in three trips to the Olympics.

11:44: Two-time world silver medalist Kayla MIRACLE (USA) gives up an early takedown to world U23 champion Nesrin BAS (TUR) at women's 62kg, but comes back with four takedowns of her own, capping the final one with a 2-point exposure for a 10-2 lead. She then adds a creative 2-point roll while under Bas on a takedown attempt. Next up for the American is Tynybekova.

11:42: Daniel LIGETI (HUN) makes it to the quarterfinal at 125kg with a top 10-0 technical superiority win over Ashton MUTUWA (NGR).

11:40: World bronze medalist Hetik CABOLOV (SRB) finishes off a 10-0 victory at freestyle 74kg with his second takedown-gut wrench combo, knocking out Refugee Team member Iman MAHDAVI (EOR) in 2:49.

11:33: Tokyo bronze medalist Kyle DAKE (USA) makes short work of Anthony MONTERO (VEN) in his bid for an elusive gold at freestyle 74kg, combining takedowns with gut wrenches for a 10-0 win in 2:20.

11:33: Top seed and reigning world champion Aisuluu TYNYBEKOVA (KGZ) gets her campaign started at women's 62kg Tokyo Olympic silver medalist has her hands full with Esther KOLAWOLE (NGR), but comes away with a 5-3 victory. Tynybekova falls behind 1-1 on criteria early in the second period when she gives up a stepout. She comes back with a stepout of her own, then uses a cradle to secure a takedown. Kolawole scores a takedown in the last seconds, then loses a dubious challenge to give Tynybekova her final point.

11:36: Amarveer DHESI (CAN) manages to get two technical points over Zhiwei DENG (CHN) and win his 125kg bout 2-1 and book a place in the quarterfinals against Amir Hossein ZARE (IRI).

11:28: World champion and returning bronze medalist Amir Hossein ZARE (IRI) begins his day with a 5-0 win over Aiaal LAZAREV (KGZ). Not much troubled Zare in that bout.

11:27: Razambek  JAMALOV (UZB) breaks open a close match at freestyle 74kg to knock off Tokyo silver medalist Mahamedkhabib KADZIMAHAMEDAU (AIN) 8-0. With a 2-0 lead heading into the second period, Jamalov gets in deep on a double, lifts up and back to put Kadzimahamedau onto his back for 2. He then adds a takedown and gut wrench for good measure.  

11:21: In the two repechage bouts on Mat C, Javrail SHAPIEV (UZB) takes out Alexander MOORE (CAN) 6-1 and Dauren KURUGLIEV (GRE) wins 10-0 against Jayden LAWRENCE (AUS). Both Shapiev and Kurugliev book spots in the bronze medal bouts.

11:20: Giullia PENALBER (BRA) fills the final place in the women's 57kg bronze-medal matches with a 7-0 victory over Sandra PARUSZEWSKI (GER). Penalber gets a 4-point takedown and a regular takedown in the second period. She will face Kexin HONG (CHN) for the bronze.

11:18: Fans get an early treat with a clash between veteran and two-time former world champion Frank CHAMIZO (ITA) and two-time world medalist Yones EMAMI (IRI) in a preliminary round match at freestyle 74kg, which has 18 entries. Chamizo, a bronze medalist at Rio 2016, takes a 4-3 lead in the first period with a pair of scores of some wild scrambles. But Emami charges back, getting a 4-point takedown off a single-leg and adds another takedown for a 9-4 win.

11:10: In the opener on Mat B, Hannah TAYLOR (CAN) is in control all the way in rolling to a 13-0 victory over Luisa VALVERDE (ECU) in a women's 57kg repechage, clinching it with a 4-point takedown.  She will try to win her first Olympic medal by keeping Helen MAROULIS (USA) from winning her third in the bronze-medal match.  

11:06: The action on Mat A opens with the lone repechage match at freestyle 57kg. Bekzat ALMAZ UULU (KGZ) spots Wanhao ZOU (CHN) a four-point lead, but catches him with a pancake to get the fall with :24 left in the first period. He will face Golomjon ABDULLAEV (UZB) for the bronze later tonight.

10:55: Welcome to day five of wrestling at the Paris Olympics. We advise you to click on the match order of the day and have your minds blown!