#WrestleNoviSad

U23 World Championships 2025 Greco-Roman Day 2 Highlights

By Vinay Siwach

NOVI SAD, Serbia (October 21) -- The U23 World Championships continue on second day in Novi Sad, Serbia. Greco-Roman will continue in 55kg, 67kg, 72kg and 97kg.

WATCH CENTER | LIVE MATCH ORDER | DAY 1 RESULTS

15:10: Anri KHOZREVANIDZE (GEO) with a reversal when Ahmadreza MOHSEN NEZHAD (IRI) got a turn which gives the Georgian a 5-4 lead and gives him the win and a place in the 67kg semifinals.

15:00: Alibek AMIROV (UWW), U23 European champion, is into the semifinals at 55kg at the U23 Worlds after a 9-0 victory over Vikramjit MORE (IND). Two defensive fouls from More in that match.

14:45: Armin SHAMSIPOUR (IRI) has no mercy on Nurbolot BERDIKULOV (KGZ) as he rolls to a 13-3 technical superiority win at 55kg. Shamsipour, a 2024 U17 world champ, used his incredible gut-wrench to score his points.

14:30: Darius KIEFER (GEO) cannot survive the Maksim AVERIN (UWW) test! Kiefer, who has looked off color today, did well in the first period to be down only 1-0 but gives up two points in the second period to Averin who wins 3-1 to advance to the semifinals at 97kg

14:25: Iman MOHAMMADI (IRI) with a 5-3 victory over Ruslan NURULLAYEV (AZE) at 72kg. He scores two front headlock turns from par terre while Nurullayev only scored a turn. 

14:00: Big match on Mat B as U20 world champion Yehor YAKUSHENKO (UKR) takes on returning silver medalist Abubakr KHASLAKHANAU (UWW). The first points are scored by Khaslakhanau with a go-behind takedown for a 2-0 lead. Just before the break, Yakushenko with a cartwheel takedown to lead 2-2 on criteria. Khaslakhanau takes takes the lead back as Yakushenko called passive in the second period but he fails to score any points from par terre. Yakushenko has two minutes to make a comeback. He complains of a shoulder pain. Yakushenko with a stepout as the bout restarts and he takes a 3-3 criteria lead. He keeps his criteria lead and wins the bout 3-3 on criteria to advance to the semifinals.

13:55: Ahmadreza MOHSEN NEZHAD (IRI) scores a 7-1 victory at 67kg against Azat SARIYAR (TUR). Mohsen Nezhad is a two-time world U20 champion and making his U23 debut.

13:30: Andrea SETTI (ITA) with a four-pointer late in the match against Anri KHOZREVANIDZE (GEO) but the Georgian remains unfazed by the move and wins his 67kg bout 6-5.

13:20: World U20 champion Yehor YAKUSHENKO (UKR) with a dominant win over Luka GABISONIA (GEO) at 97kg. He goes for a big four before getting a stepout to lead 5-0. A stepout and takedown to finish the bout 8-0 in the first period.

13:15: Returning silver medalist at 97kg Abubakar KHASLAKHANAU (UWW) with a technical superiority win over world U20 silver medalist Mohammad SEYDI (IRI) as he wins 9-1. Three stepouts in that bout for him. He will face world U20 champion Yehor YAKUSHENKO (UKR) next.

12:55: Darius KIEFER (GER) with a comeback in his 97kg bout against Tomislav BRKAN (CRO). Kiefier was down 3-2 but gets a par terre and turn to lead 5-3 before beating Brkan 7-4 and advance to the quarterfinals at 97kg.

12:30: Ahmadreza MOHSEN NEZHAD (IRI), a two-time world U20 champion, gets a good warm-up with an8-0 win over Ardit ZENELI (ALB) in just a minute and 14 seconds at 67kg.

12:05: Mate VEGH (HUN) scored four points on Iman MOHAMMADI (IRI) but the Iranian was just too too good for him. Mohammadi with 10 points in the match to beat Vegh 10-4 and advance at 72kg.

11:50: Hleb MAKARANKA (UWW) brings down world bronze medalist Daniial AGAEV (UWW) at 67kg. He gets four points from par terre while giving none as Makaranka wins 5-1 to advance at 67kg.

11:35: Vikramjit MORE (IND) gives India a win at 55kg as he beats Denis MIHAI (ROU). Mihai was up 1-0 but More pressures him towards the zone when Mihai tries a arm-throw but More blocks it for a takedown. He turns him for another two points to lead 4-1. Romania challenge for a slip throw but it is not and the challenge is lost. Mihai gets a point in the second period for par terre but More sails through 5-3.

11:20: Richard KARELSON (EST), senior European silver medalist, has no trouble in beating Javokhir SHODIYAROV (UZB) at 97kg. He scores the takedown 44 seconds in the second period to win 9-0.

11:05: U20 World silver medalist Hadi SEYDI (IRI) off to a good start as he scores a 10-0 win over Dorian TREJO OLGUIN (MEX) at 97kg. His next bout is against returning silver medalist Abubakr KHASLAKHANAU (UWW).

10:55: Darius KIEFER (GER), a U20 world silver and bronze medalist, off to a slow start as he beats Juan DIAZ BLANCO (VEN) 5-3 at 97kg. He scored a counter after Diaz's takedown and led 5-2. However, Kiefer defended his par terre for the win. 

10:30: Former Asian champion Iman MOHAMMADI (IRI) opens his U23 Worlds campaign with a 6-0 win over Oleh KHALILOV (UKR) at 72kg.

#development

UWW-ISF Partnership Empowers Physical Education Teachers through Wrestling

By United World Wrestling Press

NEW DELHI, India (July 20) --  United World Wrestling partnered with International School Sports Federation (ISF) to pilot a new training programme for physical education teachers.

This pilot programme was organized in New Delhi, India by the School Games Federation of India (SGFI) in collaboration with the Directorate of Education (Sports Branch), Government of the National Capital Territory of Delhi (GNCTD). The goal of the programme was to introduce educational wrestling methodologies to physical education teachers in hopes to develop wrestling at the grassroots level. This course was delivered by certified UWW Educator, Mr. Ahmed KHEDHRI (TUN).

The pilot programme consisted of four separate four-day sessions that were attended by a total of 88 participants from diverse sporting backgrounds. Many of them were physical education teachers and some were educators in various sport disciplines that included boxing, judo, cricket, hockey, football kabaddi, swimming, basketball, and athletics.

Wrestling

These educators completed the ISF-UWW Level 1 Coaching Course for Physical Education Teachers. Each four-day course had theoretical and practical sessions.

The theoretical sessions focused on wrestling in physical education, roles and responsibilities of a coach, characteristics of effective coaching, learning and teaching methodologies, implementing the Wrestle4Fun programme, and youth development strategies.

The participants then applied their knowledge in the practical sessions. In those sessions, they delivered discovery games, implemented Wrestle4Fun activities, learned the seven basic skills of wrestling, and participated in skill demonstrations techniques.

"Throughout the courses, the participants demonstrated a high level of motivation, commitment, and active engagement," Khedhri said. “One of the most significant outcomes of the course was its ability to bring together participants from diverse backgrounds and equip them with the knowledge and skills required to teach and coach wrestling.”

Wrestling

Wrestling participant Ramashish YADAV said that the course will help him both in PE and wrestling coaching.

“It helped me significantly improve my personal skills as both a coach and a physical education teacher in wrestling," Yadav said.

Shipra SRIVASTAVA, a PE teacher in hocket, said that she learnt how to increase children's interest in sports.

"The UWW Level 1 Course taught me how Wrestle4Fun and Discovery Games can be used to increase children’s interest in sport and make it easier to teach any skill,” Srivastava said.

Another PE teacher from basketball Gokulesh SHARMA also expressed that the course was helpful to develop interest of children.

“The course was excellent," Sharma said. "The best part was learning how to develop children’s skills through wrestling while keeping it fun, specifically, how to maximize involvement of young children and foster their mental and physical development in an enjoyable way."

Wrestle4Fun is developmentally appropriate for all age levels and designed to support girls’ and boys’ physical literacy journey. It has five stages based on different developmental levels. Each stage has 15 lessons. In total, there are 75 lessons with over 200 games and activities.

The entire Wrestle4Fun programme can be found on the Academy platform. The UWW Academy can found here at UWW Academy.