#WrestlePontevedra

U23 World Championships Day 1

Monday, October 17, 2022 - 08:31 By Vinay Siwach

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PONTEVEDRA, Spain (October 17) -- The U23 World Championships begins in Pontevedra with five Greco-Roman weight classes in action. Wrestlers from 55kg, 63kg, 77kg, 87kg and 130kg will be on the mat for day one of the tournament.

WATCH LIVE | MATCH ORDER

13:45: Alexandrin GUTU (MDA) with a late takedown to pull off a 4-2 win over Rassul ZHUNIS (KAZ) in the 77kg quarterfinals. In the next match, Malkhas AMOYAN (ARM) scores a stepout to win 2-1 against Akylbek TALANTBEKOV (KGZ)

13:25: Denis MIHAI (ROU) moves closer to winning his first gold medal of the year. After missing out on the U20 world and European Championships, he moves into the semifinal at the U23 Worlds.

12:55: That's the big upset of the day. U20 world champion Mykhailo VYSHNYVETSKYI (UKR) continues his impressive year with another big win. He goes past Oslo world champion Aliakbar YOUSOFI (IRI) 7-1 at 130kg. Yousofi got the par terre first but Vyshnyvetskyi locked his arm for two. In the second period, he extended his lead to 3-1 before a last-second four-pointer got him the win 

12:25: Maksat SAILAU (KAZ) with a bear hug against Sunil KUMAR (IND) and then keeps him down for a fall at 87kg. That came out of nowhere from Sailau.

12:00: U20 world bronze medalist Alexandrin GUTU (MDA) begins with a commanding 8-0 win over Sajan BHANWALA (IND). This is the sixth tournament of the year for the U20 European champion.

11:45: Malkhas AMOYAN (ARM)  Mohammad Reza MOKHTARI (IRI) and it's Amoyan who has been called passive in the first period. He is up 1-0 but can't get the turn from par terre. In the second period, Amoyan is on the top but he also fails to get any turn. 1-1 criteria lead for Amoyan. He will hang on for the 1-1 win

11:30: Idris IBAEV (GER) continues his good form from the senior world championships and begins his defense of the 77kg gold medal with an 11-2 win over Davit SOLOGASHVILI (GEO) 

11:00: Returning silver medalist Poya DAD MARZ (IRI) got a turn from par terre while Ahmet TASKINOGLU (TUR) failed to do so and Dad Marz wins the 55kg bout 3-1.

10:55: U20 world champion Mykhailo VYSHNYVETSKYI (UKR) takes no time in winning by fall over Marin NISHIMURA (JPN) at 130kg.

10:50: World champion from Oslo at 130kg Aliakbar YOUSOFI (IRI) up against Paul MORALES (MEX). Yousofi keeps it a low affair and wins 6-0

1030: Welcome to Pontevedra. A rainy day here in the east coast city in Spain but the wrestlers are ready for their bouts.

#WrestleNoviSad

U23 Worlds 2025: Forrest wins epic final to hand U.S. team title

Tuesday, October 28, 2025 - 00:40 By Vinay Siwach

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NOVI SAD, Serbia (October 27) — For a second time this year, the United States and Iran were involved in a thrilling team title race in Freestyle at a World Championships with the U.S. eventually winning the title.

After being tied at 102 points each at the U23 World Championships in Novi Sad, the U.S. needed one win and Iran needed to win all three bouts on the final day of the competition.

The U.S. sealed the team title as soon as Jaxen FORREST (USA) won the 61kg final, giving his country an unassailable lead of 137 points over Iran, which finished second with 127 points. Japan was third with 85 points.

With the team title, U.S. won the top spot in Freestyle in all age-group World Championships while Iran won the title in senior Worlds.

Three gold medals already in pocket, the U.S. won a fourth one on Monday through Forrest who had an unforgettable bout against Omurbek ASAN UULU (KGZ).

Both teenagers, U20 world bronze medalist Forrest and U17 world champion Asan Uulu put on a match that will be remembered for ages. Both wrestlers settled in, Forrest came up with an over-underhook for four but Asan Uulu soon fired back with two takedown to make it 4-4. After a back-and-forth scramble, Asan Uulu managed to score a push out for a 5-4 lead.

But Forrest took a big lead when he threw Asan Uulu from quad pod position for four points. Kyrgyzstan’s lost challenge added one more point to make it 9-5.

Jaxen FORREST (USA)Jaxen FORREST (USA) scores a takedown against Umurbek ASAN UULU (KGZ). (Photo: United World Wrestling / Amirreza Aliasgari)

The two were not done yet. As soon as the second period began, Asan Uulu scored a stepout, Forrest got a takedown to make it 11-6. Asan Uulu managed to get a takedown and score via exposure. He took a 12-11 lead with a takedown on edge with 1:30 left.

There was more left in the match as Forrest got on a low single to get a takedown and as the wrestlers returned to standing, he threw Asan Uulu for a big four, the third of the match to make it 17-12. He was happy to give one takedown to Asan Uulu in the final 10 seconds and win the gold medal 17-14, in what was perhaps the match of the year.

SUJEET (IND)SUJEET (IND) scores the match-winning takedown against Umidjon JALOLOV (UZB). (Photo: United World Wrestling / Amirreza Aliasgari)

At 65kg, SUJEET (IND) upgraded his bronze from last year to gold this year after he blanked world bronze medalist Umidjon JALOLOV (UZB) in the final, his third 10-0 technical superiority over Jalolov this year.

Sujeet began like favorite underhook and snapdowns and Jalolov was put on the clock. Sujeet scored a takedown during that period to lead 3-0 before a stepout made it 4-0, a lead which Sujeet carried into the break.

The second period was no different as Sujeet did not let Jalolov settle down. He scored using a counter takedown to lead 6-0 with 1:52 remaining. Jalolov tried to hit a far reaching leg attack but Sujeet throws thew himself backward before scoring a takedown. A double leg takedown to make it 10-0 with 1:06 remaining.

Arash YOSHIDA (JPN)Arash YOSHIDA (JPN) celebrates after beating Merab SULEIMANISHVILI (GEO) in the 97kg final. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Amirreza Aliasgari)

Japan went past Turkiye in the team race by one point, all thanks to Arash YOSHIDA (JPN) winning the gold medal at 97kg by beating Merab SULEIMANISHVILI (GEO), 12-2, in the final.

For a split second Suleimaniashvili was about to pin Yoshida but apart from that, Yoshida never looked in any kind of trouble. His body frame and power were too much for the Georgian who just folded in the battle.

Yoshida managed to score from various position and used the underhook to perfection to earn his first world title.

One of the most dominant wrestlers in this tournament, Arsen BALAIAN (UWW), capped off his incredible run with a 10-0 victory over Eugeniu MIHALCEAN (MDA), 10-0.

RESULTS

61kg
GOLD: Jaxen FORREST (USA) df. Omurbek ASAN UULU (KGZ), 17-14

BRONZE: Akito MUKAIDA (JPN) df. Mykyta ABRAMOV (UKR), 10-0
BRONZE: Tolga OZBEK (TUR) df. Erdal GALIP (BUL), 11-1

65kg
GOLD: SUJEET (IND) df. Umidjon JALOLOV (UZB), 10-0

BRONZE: Bilol SHARIP UULU (KGZ) df. Aykhan ABDULLAZADA (AZE), 10-0
BRONZE: Bashir MAGOMEDOV (UWW) df. Yuto NISHIUCHI (JPN), 7-5

86kg
GOLD: Arsen BALAIAN (UWW) df. Eugeniu MIHALCEAN (MDA), 10-0

BRONZE: Ali TCOKAEV (AZE) df. Tornike SAMKHARADZE (GEO), 13-2
BRONZE: Abolfazl RAHMANI (IRI) df. Rakhim MAGAMADOV (FRA), 7-5

97kg
GOLD: Arash YOSHIDA (JPN) df. Merab SULEIMANISHVILI (GEO), 12-2

BRONZE: Rizabek AITMUKHAN (KAZ) df. Abolfazl BABALOO (IRI), 7-1
BRONZE: Soslan DZHAGAEV (UWW) df. David MCHEDLIDZE (UKR), 4-2