#WrestlePontevedra

U23 World Championships Day 1

By Vinay Siwach

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 World Championships 2025 Day 7 Highlights

By Vinay Siwach

NOVI SAD, Serbia (October 26) -- The U23 World Championships will see only Freestyle action on day seven. Four weight classes till semifinals are -- 61kg, 65kg, 86kg and 97kg.

WATCH LIVE | LIVE MATCH ORDER | DAY 6 RESULTS

14:40: A clash between Arash YOSHIDA (JPN) and Abolfazl BABALOO (IRI) at 97kg. Babaloo began well but Yoshida with his high-paced wrestling has Babaloo in all sorts of trouble. Yoshida was trying to pin Babaloo but referees called a foul. Iran challenged for a singlet foul but there was none. Yoshida led 5-2 after that review. He then scored two stepouts and three takedowns to win 13-2

14:30: SUJEET (IND) takes out Bashir MAGOMEDOV (UWW) at 65kg. He was put on the clock twice and was down 2-0. But he finally got a point when Magomedov was put on the clock. Sujeet hit a low single to make it 3-2 before he scored a stepout to seal a spot in the semifinal with a 4-2 win.

14:15: Technical superiority 12-0 win for Yuto NISHIUCHI (JPN) over Andranik AVETISYAN (ARM) as he moves into the 65kg semifinals. Nishiuchi does seem to struggle a little bit with his conditioning. Will be a factor in the semifinals? 

14:05: Arsen BALAIAN (UWW) gets the best of Ali TCOKAEV (AZE) in a heated 86kg bout. Balaian scored a takedown and point for activity in the second period to lead 3-1. He then forced Tcokaev a stepout before countering Tcokaev's desperate attack to score two points and win 6-1

13:55: Umidjon JALALOV (UZB), world bronze medalist in Zagreb, crafts three takedowns in his 6-1 victory over Aykhan ABDULLAZADA (AZE) and advance to the semifinals at 65.

13:50: Jaxen FORREST (USA) opens his 61kg campaign with a 13-0 masterful victory over Vasile MARCU (MDA). High-schooler Forrest missed out on a medal in Zagreb, losing a thriller in his bronze-medal bout

13:40: Abolfazl RAHMANI (IRI) downs Rocco WELSH (USA) 7-4 at 86kg. Welsh hit a big four pointer to lead 6-4 but Iran challenged the call. On review, the four points were awarded to Rahmani as he hit countered the double-leg attack. Both exchange stepout but Rahmani wins the bout.

13:05: Bashir MAGOMEDOV (UWW) with some crafty wrestling to sail through Yasin REZAEI (IRI) at 65kg. He also got a four-pointer in that 11-0 win. Magomedov is two-time U23 world champion at 61kg.

13:00: A point for activity point and a takedown for Umidjon JALOLOV (UZB) for a 3-0 but Mykyta HONCHAROV (UKR) hits a takedown with 26 seconds left to make it 3-2. Jalalov defends that lead to win at 65kg.

12:40: Abolfazl RAHMANI (IRI) needed two dramatic attacks in the final 25 seconds to win against Ahmet YAGAN (TUR) at 86kg. Down 3-1, Rahmani hit a takedown on the edge which was awarded one point for stepout after challenge, but he got an attack with 10 seconds left which was exposure two points and he won 4-3. Turkiye challenged the call but this time lost the challenge.

12:30: SUJEET (IND) with his second technical superiority win at 65kg. He scores five takedowns and one stepout to beat Dominik JAGUSZ (POL), 11-0.

12:25: Rakhim MAGAMADOV (FRA) falls to Eugeniu MIHALCEAN (MDA). Magamodov looked completely off color in his 7-4 loss at 86kg.

12:15: Arsen BALAIAN (UWW) and Gabriele NICCOLINI (ITA) had a little heated moment in their 86kg bout. Balaian was clearly the superior wrestler as he wins 10-0 and advance at 86kg. Balaian helps Niccolini off the mat and it's all good

11:45: Defending 97kg champion Rizabek AITMUKHAN (KAZ) takes his own time but starts off with an 11-1 victory over Ibrahim BENEKLI (TUR) at 97kg. The match is followed by world bronze medalist Arash YOSHIDA (JPN) finishing with a 10-0 victory over Musza ARSUNKAEV (HUN).

11:25: Bilol SHARIP UULU (KGZ) takes out U20 world champion at 61kg Marcus BLAZE (USA) at 65kg. Sharip Uulu scored a takedown to lead 3-1 and Blaze had to score a takedown to win. He managed to only score a stepout. He also challenged for a singlet pull but it was ruled that Sharip Uulu got his fingers stuck in stimulation and did not stop any attack. The lost challenge made it 4-2, the winning score of Sharip Uulu

11:05: SUJEET (IND) gives up the first takedown but then launches a spree of attacks to finish the bout 12-2 against Fiodor CEAVDARI (MDA) and advance at 65kg.

10:50: Two-time U20 world champion Yuto NISHIUCHI (JPN) begins his U23 career with a 10-0 win over Ryan DAHCHA (CAN) at 65kg. Nishiuchi is the favorite to win the gold medal here

10:40: World U23 champion Abolfazl RAHMANI (IRI) was challenged by ASHISH (IND) in his first bout at 86kg but he scores two exposures for four points which gives him 6-4 lead which he defends in the second period and win.

10:25: After the early repechage rounds, the qualifications of the four Freestyle weights are underway here. If you are wondering why there is a time change for the start of the competition, the daylight saving have commenced in Europe.