#WrestleNoviSad

U23 European C'ship Entries

By Eric Olanowski

NOVI SAD, Serbia (February 28) - United World Wrestling has released the rosters for the 2019 U23 European Championships, which take place March 4-10 at Novi Sad, Serbia's SPENS Sports Hall. 

Greco-Roman wrestling kicks off the seven-day tournament and will be followed by women's wrestling and freestyle. 

Freestyle 
57kg

Vaghinak MATEVOSYAN (ARM)
Islam BAZARGANOV (AZE)
Mikyay Salim NAIM (BUL)
Roberti DINGASHVILI (GEO)
Nico MEGERLE (GER) 
Gamzatgadzhi KHALIDOV (HUN)
Mihail LAPP (MDA) 
Haljit OSMAN (MKD)
Gary GIORDMAINA (MLT) 
Vasyl ILNYTSKYI (POL) 
Razvan Marian KOVACS (ROU) 
Amirkhan GUVAZHOKOV (RUS)
Martin GATIA L(SVK) 
Saban KIZILTAS (TUR)
Andrii YATSENKO (UKR)


Russia's 2018 junior world champion Abasgadzhi MAGOMEDOV (RUS) will at 61kg. (Photo: Sachiko Hotaka) 

61kg
Hrachya MARGARYAN (ARM)
Asgar MAMMADALIYEV (AZE)
Uladzislau KOIKA (BLR)
Carlos ALVAREZ IGLESIAS (ESP)
Teimuraz VANISHVILI (GEO)
Georgios PILIDIS (GRE)
Karoly KISS (HUN)
Natanel SAIDOV (ISR) 
Vitalie BUNICI (MDA) 
Elmedin SEJFULAU (MKD)
Costel TARCOCI (ROU) 
Abasgadzhi MAGOMEDOV (RUS)
Selehattin SERT (TUR)
Valentyn BLIASETSKYI (UKR)

65kg
Vazgen TEVANYAN (ARM)
Gabriel JANATSCH (AUT) 
Turan BAYRAMOV (AZE)
Dzianis MAKSIMAU (BLR)
Ilman MUKHTAROV (FRA)
George Anthony RAMM (GBR)
Edemi BOLKVADZE (GEO)
Justin MUELLER (GER) 
Roman ASHARIN (HUN)
Maxim SACULTAN (MDA) 
Fati VEJSELI (MKD)
Stefan Ionut COMAN (ROU) 
Saiyn KAZYRYK (RUS)
Elbrus CHERTKOEV (SVK) 
Selim KOZAN (TUR)
Ihor NYKYFORUK (UKR)

70kg
Gevorg MKHEYAN (ARM)
Ashraf ASHIROV (AZE)
Aliaksandr KURYSHTA (BLR)
Mihail Iliev GEORGIEV (BUL)
Iveriko JULAKIDZE (GEO)
Csaba VIDA (HUN)
Artem AUGA (LTU) 
Vasile DIACON (MDA) 
Andrew AZZOPARDI (MLT) 
Patryk Krzysztof OLENCZYN (POL) 
Razambek ZHAMALOV (RUS)
Taimuraz SALKAZANOV (SVK) 
Omer Faruk CAYIR (TUR)
Oleksii BORUTA (UKR)

74kg
Khachatur PAPIKYAN (ARM)
Dzhemal Rushen ALI (BUL)
Aimar ANDRUSE (EST)
Giorgi SULAVA (GEO)
Eduard TATARINOV (GER) 
Daniel ANTAL (HUN)
Andrius MAZEIKA (LTU) 
Gheorghi PASCALOV (MDA) 
Mateusz Dariusz KAMPIK (POL) 
Nikita SUCHKOV (RUS)
Akhsarbek GULAEV (SVK) 
Fazli ERYILMAZ (TUR)
Denys PAVLOV (UKR)



Radik VALIEV (RUS) will try to defend his U23 Euro title from a year ago. He'll wrestle at 79kg. (Photo: Gabor Martin) 

79kg
Simon Christian HARTMANN (AUT) 
Rashad YUSIFLI (AZE)
Uladzislau YELISEYEU (BLR)
Tariel GAPHRINDASHVILI (GEO)
Kevin LUCHT (GER) 
Botond LUKACS (HUN)
Dan Or TSESARSKY (ISR) 
Ivan ICHIZLI( MDA) 
Krzysztof Grzegorz SADOWIK (POL) 
Radik VALIEV (RUS)
Jakub SYKORA (SVK) 
Ramazan Ishak SARI (TUR)
Adlan BATAIEV (UKR)

86kg
Hovhannes MKHITARYAN (ARM)
Gadzhimurad MAGOMEDSAIDOV (AZE)
Arkadzi PAHASIAN (BLR)
Marchelo Ivanov KYUCHUKOV (BUL)
Daniel HERRERO AVERCHENCO (ESP)
Syerus ESLAMI (GBR)
Zaur BERADZE (GEO)
Johannes Martin DEML (GER) 
Patrik SZUROVSZKI (HUN)
Uri KALASHNIKOV (ISR) 
Gabriele DORO (ITA)
Andrian GROSUL (MDA) 
Bujamin NUISHI (MKD)
Michal Jan BIELAWSKI (POL) 
Arsen-Ali MUSALALIEV (RUS)
Arif OZEN (TUR)
Demid KARACHENKO (UKR)

92kg
Sargis HOVSEPYAN (ARM)
Shamil ZUBAIROV (AZE)
Aliaksei RUDZIANOK (BLR)
Alejandro CANADA PANCORBO (ESP)
Demur MEGENEISHVILI (GEO)
Ilja MATUHIN (GER) 
Bendeguz TOTH (HUN)
David LABKOVSKY (ISR) 
William RAFFI (ITA)
Gheorghe ERHAN (MDA) 
Batyrbek TCAKULOV (RUS)
Erhan YAYLACI (TUR)
Vasyl SOVA (UKR)


Georgia's reigning 97kg U23 world champion Givi MATCHARASHVILI will compete at 97kg. (Photo: Gabor Martin) 

97kg
Alimagomed ALIKHMAEV (AZE)
Dzianis KHRAMIANKOU (BLR)
Givi MATCHARASHVILI (GEO)
Erik Sven THIELE (GER) 
Kristof WITTMANN (HUN)
Simone IANNATTONI (ITA)
Lukas KRASAUSKAS (LTU) 
Shamil Alievitch MUSAEV (RUS)
Aleksandar PANTELIC (SRB)
Ibrahim CIFTCI (TUR)
Magamed ZAKARIIEV (UKR)

125kg
Islam Aslangereyvic ABUEV (AZE)
Vitali PIASNIAK (BLR)
Zuriko URTASHVILI (GEO)
Dominik KLANN (GER) 
Mihaly NAGY (HUN)
Samhan JABRAILOV (MDA) 
Kamil Tomasz KOSCIOLEK (POL) 
Vitalii GOLOEV (RUS)
Georgii NOGAEV (SVK) 
Huseyin Mehmet CIVELEK (TUR)
Yurii IDZINSKYI (UKR)


Six-time age-group world champion Zviadi PATARIDZE (GEO) has entered his named into the U23 European Championships. He'll try to defend his title from last season. (Photo: Max Rose-Fyne) 

Greco-Roman 
Norayr HAKHOYAN (ARM)
Ziyad ZEYNALOV (AZE)
Dzmitry RADZEVICH (BLR)
Enrick Jean Flavien BATAILLE (FRA)
Nugzari TSURTSUMIA (GEO)
Bence KOVACS (HUN)
Maksym VYSOTSKYI (ISR) 
Giovanni FRENI (ITA)
Artium DELEANU (MDA) 
Florin TITA (ROU) 
Viktor VEDERNIKOV (RUS)
Sebastian KOLOMPAR (SRB)
Ekrem OZTURK (TUR)
Vladyslav KOROSTELOV (UKR)

60kg
Armen MELIKYAN (ARM)
Ihar DROZD (BLR)
Ivo Krasimirov ILIEV (BUL)
Mikkel LASSEN (DEN)
Irakli DZIMISTARISHVILI (GEO)
Antonio MARTINS CABRAL (POR)
Razvan ARNAUT (ROU) 
Sadyk LALAEV (RUS)
Dejan PETROVIC (SRB)
Ardit FAZLJIJA (SWE)
Kerem KAMAL (TUR)
Zhora ABOVIAN (UKR)

63kg
Slavik GALSTYAN (ARM)
Mikayil RAHMANOV (AZE)
Aliaksandr PECHURENKA (BLR)
Nikalas Petrov SULEV (BUL)
Ott SAAR (EST)
Levani KAVJARADZE (GEO)
Andrej GINC (GER) 
Erik TORBA (HUN)
Cezary Bartosz NOWAK (POL) 
Julinho Benjamim CORREIA DJU (POR)
Mihai Irinel BOTEZ (ROU) 
Roman Aleksandrovich IVANOV (RUS)
Miljan DUKANOVIC (SRB)
Virgil Alexander BICA (SWE)
Abdullah TOPRAK (TUR)
Oleksandr HRUSHYN (UKR)

67kg
Aliaksandr LIAVONCHYK (BLR)
Nestar Nedkov NESTAROV (BUL)
Alejandro Ruslan CONCEPCION CASTILLO (ESP)
Giorgi KURTANIDZE (GEO)
Witalis LAZOVSKI (GER) 
Bence BALATONI (HUN)
Kristupas SLEIVA (LTU) 
Valentin PETIC (MDA) 
Morten THORESEN (NOR)
Mateusz Radoslaw SZEWCZUK (POL) 
Pedro Miguel DE MATOS OLIVEIRA DE MORAIS CA (POR)
Alexandru SOLOMON (ROU) 
Alen MIRZOIAN (RUS)
Sebastian NAD (SRB)
Flavio FREULER (SUI)
Haci KARAKUS (TUR)
Artur POLITAIEV (UKR)

72kg
Hrant KALACHYAN (ARM)
Christoph BURGER (AUT) 
Islambek DADOV (AZE)
Andrei DZIAMBITSKI (BLR)
Stoyan Stoychev KUBATOV (BUL)
Pavel PUKLAVEC (CRO)
Ramaz ZOIDZE (GEO)
Oliver KAJTAN (HUN)
Titas KERSEVICIUS (LTU) 
Valeriu TODEREAN (MDA) 
Juan Sebastian AAK (NOR)
Bartlomiej Daniel KLIMEK (POL) 
Magomed YARBILOV (RUS)
Aleksa ERSKI (SRB)
Denis HORVATH (SVK) 
Cengiz ARSLAN (TUR)
Ihor BYCHKOV (UKR)


Russia's 2018 junior world champion Islam OPIEV (RUS) will make his U23 debut at the U23 European Championships. (Photo: Max Rose-Fyne) 

77kg
Nasir HASANOV (AZE)
Anton SAKHNO (BLR)
Zahari Rosenov ZASHEV (BUL)
Antonio KAMENJASEVIC (CRO)
Daniel VARGA (CZE)
Matias Olavi Iisakki LIPASTI (FIN)
Beka MAMUKASHVILI (GEO)
Karan MOSEBACH (GER) 
Tamas LEVAI (HUN)
Luca DARIOZZI (ITA)
Paulius GALKINAS (LTU) 
Per Anders KURE (NOR)
Maksym ZAKHARCHUK (POL) 
George Vlad MARIEA (ROU) 
Islam OPIEV (RUS)
Andrija Luka MALETIN (SRB)
Norbert SIPKA (SVK) 
Khalid KERCHIYEV (SWE)
Serkan AKKOYUN (TUR)
Elmar NURALIIEV (UKR)

82kg
David HALBEISEN (AUT) 
Eltun VAZIRZADE (AZE)
Stanislau SHAFARENKA (BLR)
Svetoslav Nikolaev NIKOLOV (BUL)
Karlo KODRIC (CRO)
Vili Tapio ROPPONEN (FIN)
Aivengo RIKADZE (GEO)
Zotlan LEVAI (HUN)
Victor BUZU (MDA) 
Filip Piotr CHRZASZCZ (POL) 
Vaag MARGARIAN (RUS)
Branko KOVACEVIC (SRB)
Fabio DIETSCHE (SUI)
Hasan Basri YILDIRIM (TUR)
Vitalii ANDRIIOVYCH (UKR)

87kg
Nazarshah FATULLAYEV (AZE)
Anton KURS (BLR)
Yoan Danielov DIMITROV (BUL)
Ivan HUKLEK (CRO)
Toni Heikki Herman METSOMAEKI (FIN)
Gurami KHETSURIANI (GEO)
Dariusz Attila VITEK (HUN)
Mirco MINGUZZI (ITA)
Martynas NEMSEVICIUS (LTU) 
Gazi KHALILOV (RUS)
Zarko DICKOV (SRB)
Aleksandar Georgije STJEPANETIC (SWE)
Ali CENGIZ (TUR)
Semen NOVIKOV (UKR)

97kg
Arif NIFTULLAYEV (AZE)
Dzmitry KAMINSKI (BLR)
Ondrej DADAK (CZE)
Arvi Martin SAVOLAINEN (FIN)
Giorgi MELIA (GEO)
Jan ZIRN (GER) 
Michail IOSIFIDIS (GRE)
Robert ERSEK (HUN)
Marcel Adam KASPEREK (POL) 
Ruslan BEKUZAROV (RUS)
Boris PETRUSIC (SRB)
Damian VON EUW (SUI)
Ibrahim TIGCI (TUR)
Vladen KOZLIUK (UKR)

130kg
David OVASAPYAN (ARM)
Sarkhan MAMMADOV (AZE)
Bopembe Arsen SYCHEV (BLR)
Ante MILKOVIC (CRO)
Artur VITITIN (EST)
Konsta Johannes MAEENPAEAE (FIN)
Zviadi PATARIDZE (GEO)
Franz RICHTER (GER) 
Rafal Andrzej KRAJEWSKI (POL) 
Lenard Istvan BEREI (ROU) 
Oleg Kahaberovitch AGAKHANOV (RUS)
Boban ZIVANOVIC (SRB)
Osman YILDIRIM (TUR)
Vladyslav KOVALENKO (UKR)


Budapest bronze medalist Oksana LIVACH (UKR) is set to compete at 50kg the U23 Euro championships. (Photo: Max Rose-Fyne) 

Women's Wrestling 
50kg
Turkan NASIROVA (AZE)
Kseniya STANKEVICH (BLR)
Miglena Georgieva SELISHKA (BUL)
Bianka RECZI (HUN)
Ramona ERIKSEN (NOR)
Katarzyna KAMINSKA (POL) 
Maria Alexandra CIOCLEA (ROU) 
Nadezhda SOKOLOVA (RUS)
Aynur ERGE (TUR)
Oksana LIVACH (UKR)

53kg
Tatyana VARANSOVA (AZE)
Katsiaryna PICHKOUSKAYA (BLR)
Kremena Krasimirova PETROVA (BUL)
Annika WENDLE (GER) 
Agata Marta WALERZAK (POL) 
Suzanna Georgiana SEICARIU (ROU) 
Mariia TIUMEREKOVA (RUS)
Zeynep YETGIL (TUR)
Khrystyna BEREZA (UKR)

55kg
Jeannie Agnes KESSLER (AUT) 
Darya SINKAVETS (BLR)
Sezen Behchetova BELBEROVA (BUL)
Ellen RIESTERER (GER) 
Szimonetta Timea SZEKER (HUN)
Alicja CZYZOWICZ (POL) 
Andreea Beatrice ANA (ROU) 
Viktoriia VAULINA (RUS)
Pia KOCBEK (SLO)
Eda TEKIN (TUR)
Anastasiya KRAVCHENKO (UKR)

57kg
Valeryia YARMOLA (BLR)
Elena Heike BRUGGER (GER) 
Ramona GALAMBOS (HUN)
Dominika Ewa KULWICKA (POL) 
Aleksandra NITSENKO (RUS)
Elif YANIK (TUR)
Alina AKOBIIA (UKR)


Reinging junior world champion Anastasia NICHITA (MDA) will try to improve on her U23 Euro runner-up finishes from the past two season. She'll wrestle at 59kg.  (Photo: Max Rose-Fyne) 

59kg
Yuliya PISARENKA (BLR)
Erika BOGNAR (HUN)
Anastasia NICHITA (MDA) 
Zelfira SADRADDINOVA (RUS)
Anna FABIAN (SRB)
Emma Margareta Charlotte JOHANSSON (SWE)
Hatice Ece TEKIN (TUR)
Anhelina LYSAK (UKR)

62kg
Veranika IVANOVA (BLR)
Lydia PEREZ TOURINO (ESP)
Ameline DOUARRE (FRA)
Luzie MANZKE (GER) 
Daria BOBRULKO (RUS)
Maria JUHASZOVA (SVK) 
Derya BAYHAN (TUR)
Ilona PROKOPEVNIUK (UKR)

65kg
Kathrin MATHIS (AUT) 
Elis MANOLOVA (AZE)
Veranika EISMANT (BLR)
Yuliana Vasileva YANEVA (BUL)
Pauline Denise LECARPENTIER (FRA)
Noémi SZABADOS (HUN)
Hedda Haug STRAND (NOR)
Kriszta Tunde INCZE (ROU) 
Mariia KUZNETSOVA (RUS)
Elin Elisabeth FORSBERG (SWE)
Asli TUGCU (TUR)
Anastasiia LAVRENCHUK (UKR)


Russia's four-time age-group world champion Khanum VELIEVA (RUS) will try to imporve on her U23 Euro runner-up finish from a year ago. She's entered at 68kg.  (Photo: Max Rose-Fyne)

68kg
Jeyla NAGHIZADE (AZE)
Yauheniya ANDREICHYKAVA (BLR)
Natalia Iwona STRZALKA (POL) 
Khanum VELIEVA (RUS)
Kadriye AKSOY (TUR)
Alina RUDNYTSKA LEVYTSKA (UKR)

72kg
Anastasiya ZIMIANKOVA (BLR)
Alexandra Nicoleta ANGHEL (ROU) 
Evgeniia ZAKHARCHENKO (RUS)
Beste ALTUG (TUR)
Yelyzaveta TISKAROVA SAIDAKOVA (UKR)

76kg
Kseniya DZIBUK (BLR)
Georgina Olwen NELTHORPE (GBR)
Francy RAEDELT (GER) 
Enrica RINALDI (ITA)
Diana Elena VLASCEANU (ROU) 
Daria SHISTEROVA (RUS)
Aysegul OZBEGE (TUR)
Romana VOVCHAK (UKR)

SCHEDULE
Sunday (March 3)
 
17:00 - Draw GR – 55-63-77-87-130kg

Monday (March 4)
9:30 - Medical examination & Weigh-in GR – 55-63-77-87-130kg
11:30 - Qualification rounds GR – 55-63-77-87-130kg
14:30 - Draw GR – 60-67-72-82-97kg
18:00 - Semi Final GR – 55-63-77-87-130kg

Tuesday (March 5) 
9:30 - Weigh-in GR – 55-63-77-87-130kg
9:45 - Medical Examination & Weigh-in GR – 60-67-72-82-97kg
11:30 - Qualification rounds GR – 60-67-72-82-97kg
11:30 - Repechage GR – 55-63-77-87-130kg
14:30 - Draw WW – 50-55-59-68-76kg
16:45 - Opening Ceremony
17:15 - Semi Final GR – 60-67-72-82-97kg
18: 00 - Finals GR – 55-63-77-87-130kg

Wednesday (March 6) 
9:30 - Weigh-in GR – 60-67-72-82-97kg
9:45 -  Medical examination & Weigh-in WW – 50-55-59-68-76kg
11:30 - Qualification rounds WW – 50-55-59-68-76kg
11:30 - Repechage GR – 60-67-72-82-97kg
14:00 - Draw WW – 53-57-62-65-72kg 
17:15 - Semi Final WW – 50-55-59-68-76kg
18: 00 - Finals GR – 60-67-72-82-97kg

Thursday (March 7)
9:30 - Weigh-in WW – 50-55-59-68-76kg
9:45 - Medical examination & Weigh-in WW – 53-57-62-65-72kg
11:30 - Qualification rounds WW – 53-57-62-65-72kg
11:30 - Repechage WW – 50-55-59-68-76kg
14:00 - Draw FS – 57-65-70-79-97kg
17:15 - Semi Final WW – 53-57-62-65-72kg
18: 00 - Finals WW – 50-55-59-68-76kg

Friday (March 8) 
9:30 - Weigh-in WW – 53-57-62-65-72kg
9:45 - Medical examination & Weigh-in FS – 57-65-70-79-97kg
11:30 - Qualification rounds FS – 57-65-70-79-97kg
11:30 - Repechage WW – 53-57-62-65-72kg
14:00 - Draw FS – 61-74-86-92-125kg
17:15 - Semi Final FS – 57-65-70-79-97kg
18: 00 -  Finals WW – 53-57-62-65-72kg

Saturday (March 9) 
9:30 - Weigh-in FS – 57-65-70-79-97kg
9:45 - Medical examination & Weigh-in FS – 61-74-86-92-125kg
11:30 - Qualification rounds FS – 61-74-86-92-125kg
11:30 - Repechage FS – 57-65-70-79-97kg
17:15 - Semi Final FS – 61-74-86-92-125kg
18: 00 -  Finals FS – 57-65-70-79-97kg

Sunday (March 10) 
9:30 - Weigh-in FS – 61-74-86-92-125kg
16:00 - Repechage FS – 61-74-86-92-125kg
18:00 - Finals FS – 61-74-86-92-125kg

#WrestleAthens

U17 Worlds: U.S. wins 3 golds to shock Iran for FS team title

By Vinay Siwach

ATHENS, Greece (August 3) -- Three gold medals for the United States and Iran's incredible choke on Sunday saw the U.S. defend its Freestyle team title at the World U17 Championships in Athens, Greece.

Going into the final day, Iran needed to win one bout out of four it had wrestlers in to claim the title irrespective of U.S. results. On the other hand, U.S. needed to win all its four bouts, including two head-to-head finals, and hope that Iran loses all its other matches as well.

That is exactly what transpired on the mat as U.S. put on an inspired show and won three gold and one bronze medal to reach 154 points. Iran finished with 150 points after its three loses in the finals and one in a bronze-medal bout.

Kazakhstan managed to pip Azerbaijan by one point and finish third with 91 points. Azerbaijan finished fourth 90 points and Japan got 79 points and finished fifth.

On Saturday, Ariah MILLS (USA) had won one gold as well apart from Japan, Azerbaijan, Ukraine and one UWW wrestler winning gold medals.

It began with Keegan BASSETT (USA), who gave hope to U.S. by claiming the gold medal at 45kg, as he pinned Parsa TAHMASBI (IRI) in the final inside the first period.

The first scramble saw the two wrestlers called back to center as neither wrestler was able to break the arm-lock. Bassett got the first takedown to lead 2-0 and then a turn made it 4-0. The American wrestler got another takedown and kept Tahmasbi's back on the mat.

The referees took their time but eventually called the fall, giving Bassett the gold medal at 45kg. Incidentally, its the same weight class his brother Bowen won the world U17 gold medal in 2021.

"Ever since I started wrestling, this was one of my goals to be a world champ," Bassett said. "It feels unbelievable to find a way to do it."

Over the two days he wrestled, Bassett showed how technically sound and physically strong he is at the weight class.

"I wrestled pretty good overall. First match was a little rough; nerves, and it was my first match in about three months," he said. "But I think I got better overall as the weekend went on and that's what I needed."

Four years ago, he was in Budapest watching Bowen win the gold medal in similar fashion as he pinned his opponent in the final. Keegan recalled that day.

"I definitely had that in mind going into this," he said. "Four years, that's unreal. I was there for him when he won in Budapest. I cried then, I cried now. It's just means so much. We work so hard and it's just truly such a surreal moment."

Samuel SANCHEZ (USA)Samuel SANCHEZ (USA) scores the gold winning takedown against Ulugbek RASHIDOV (UZB) in the 51kg final. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Amirreza Aliasgari)

Samuel SANCHEZ (USA), a returning world champion facing another returning world champion Ulugbek RASHIDOV (UZB), consolidated U.S. position by winning a thrilling 51kg final.

Rashidov was put on the passivity clock in the first period which gave Sanchez a 1-0 lead. He tried to score a go-behind and was awarded two points in the sequence. The U.S. challenged the decision and on review, it was clear that Rashidov never passed behind Sanchez and the two points were removed.

Sanchez came out attacking in the second period and got on a single-leg attack. Rashidov got his best defense of the match and defended that attack. Soon, Sanchez was put on the clock but he got the takedown on the edge with another leg attack to lead 3-0 and also got the activity time removed .

While Rashidov did get a front headlock turn in the final five seconds, Sanchez did not let him another and planted Rashidov's back on the mat for two more points as the time expired.

"I knew he was going to be a tough opponent," Sanchez said. "I got a little tired in the match, but I  kept going, kept digging deep and going through it. I got a couple shots but wasn't able to finish. But my last shot, I was able to take him out of bounce and get the two-point takedown."

Sanchez now has two gold medals at the World U17 Championships, having won at 45kg last year.

"This year I was definitely better than I was last year at controlling my opponent and moving him around," he said. "Not letting them on my legs as much. Last year, I was down like 5-0 in the finals. This year, didn't take me down."

Jayden JAMES (USA)Jayden JAMES (USA) defeated Arsham VAHABIAN (IRI), 9-2, in the 71kg. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Amirreza Aliasgari)

Jayden JAMES (USA) put the U.S. closer to the title as he humbled Arsham VAHABIAN (IRI), 9-2, in the 71kg.

Vahabian was looking for his leg attacks but they never came as James showed some of the best defense of the night. He countered and scored a takedown. That remained the theme of the match as James kept going and did not even return to his corner during the break.

Soon, James had Vahabian broken and he ended the bout as Vahabian tried to pull of a headpinch. The win made U.S. go to 139 points while Iran was on 130 points.

In the 92kg bronze medal bout, Tanner HODGINS (USA) rallied to beat Elguja LOMIDZE (GEO), 10-0, and took the final tally of U.S. to 154 points.

David DZEBISOV (UWW)David DZEBISOV's (UWW) win over Amirali ALIZADEH (IRI) in the 92kg final indirectly helped the U.S. win the team title. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Amirreza Aliasgari)

It was now on Amirali ALIZADEH (IRI), who needed to win his 92kg final, a win which would have propelled Iran to 155 points and the team title.

But David DZEBISOV (UWW) ruined that party. Dzebisov defeated Alizadeh 6-2 in the 92kg final to deny Iran and earn a world title for himself.

Dzebisov scored the first takedown to lead 2-0 but Alizadeh fired one back on the second period to make it 2-2 and lead on criteria. He went into defense mode after that.

He, however, got caught in a tangle with Dzebisov who managed to finish on top and score two points and a lead of 4-2. There was only desperation from Alizadeh after that as he gave up two more points to drop the final 6-2.

In the only final in which neither Iran nor the U.S. featured, SITENDER (IND) won India's first Freestyle gold medal by beating Rihito HIURA (JPN) in the 60kg final.

A takedown masterclass saw Sitender break Hiura to the core and he was not able to finish his attacks nor defend the ones from Sitender.

The gold was first in Freestyle for India at U17 Worlds since 2022 and only the second time ever that the country had gold medals in all three styles.

USAThe 10 United States Freestyle wrestlers with the champion's team trophy. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Amirreza Aliasgari)

RESULTS

45kg
GOLD: Keegan BASSETT (USA) df. Parsa TAHMASBI (IRI), via fall (6-0)

BRONZE: Mirjalol MUKAMMILOV (UZB) df. Arnur NURSAIDOV (KGZ), 4-4
BRONZE: Ibragim VELIULLOV (UWW) df. Bakdaulet AGABEK (KAZ), 9-2

51kg
GOLD: Samuel SANCHEZ (USA) df. Ulugbek RASHIDOV (UZB), 5-2

BRONZE: Danael ABDYKASSYM (KAZ) df. Temuri TUTARASHVILI (GEO), 9-4
BRONZE: Dzhamal BAKAEV (UWW) df. Haruku SHIINA (JPN), 12-5

60kg
GOLD: SITENDER (IND) df. Rihito HIURA (JPN), 9-4

BRONZE: Hasan HASANOV (AZE) df. Nathan NASH (CAN), 5-4
BRONZE: Bekassyl ASSAMBEK (KAZ) df. Arian MEHRALIZADEH (IRI), 9-0

71kg
GOLD: Jayden JAMES (USA) df. Arsham VAHABIAN (IRI), 9-2

BRONZE: Ayubjon BOZORZODA (TJK) df. Jason KEIL (GER), 6-0
BRONZE: Yeghishe MOSESYAN (ARM) df. Farrukhbek JUMANAZAROV (UZB), 7-6

92kg
GOLD: David DZEBISOV (UWW) df. Amirali ALIZADEH (IRI), 6-2

BRONZE: Tanner HODGINS (USA) df. Elguja LOMIDZE (GEO), 10-0
BRONZE: Said PASHAYEV (AZE) df. Beibarys YERGALI (KAZ), 5-3