#WrestlePontevedra

U23 World Championships day five semifinals set

By Vinay Siwach

PONTEVEDRA, Spain (October 21) -- The U23 World Championships enters day five with freestyle action in five weight classes -- 57kg, 65kg, 70kg, 79kg, and 97kg. The bouts will go through the semifinal round before the evening session which will see the medal bouts of women's wrestling.

MATCH ORDER | WATCH LIVE

The semifinals for the evening session

57kg
Bekzat ALMAZ UULU (KGZ) vs. AMAN (IND)
Giorgi GEGELASHVILI (GEO) vs. Ahmet DUMAN (TUR)

65kg
Erik ARUSHANIAN (UKR) vs. Hamza ALACA (TUR)
Vazgen TEVANYAN (ARM) vs. Adlan ASKAROV (KAZ)

70kg
Yahya THOMAS (USA) vs. Amirmohammad YAZDANI (IRI)
Giorgi ELBAKIDZE (GEO) vs. Orozobek TOKTOMAMBETOV (KGZ)

79kg​​​​​​​
Vladimeri GAMKRELIDZE (GEO) vs. Georgios KOUGIOUMTSIDIS (GRE)
Carter STAROCCI (USA) vs. Daulet YERGESH (KAZ)

97kg​​​​​​​
Amirali AZARPIRA (IRI) vs. Ertugrul AGCA (GER)
Tanner SLOAN (USA) vs. Islam ILYASOV (AZE) 

14:45: Aman wins 13-2 against Abe to move into the 57kg semifinal against Bekzat ALMAZ UULU (KGZ) who defeated Munkh Erdene BATKHUYAG (MGL) via fall. The other semifinal will have Giorgi GEGELASHVILI (GEO) going up against Ahmet DUMAN (TUR) who defeated Kamil KERYMOV (UKR) 14-4. 

14:30: At 97kg, Tanner SLOAN (USA) with a 6-3 win over Andro MARGISHVILI (GEO) and moves into the semifinals against Islam ILYASOV (AZE) who defeats Yunus GAFUROV (KAZ) 4-0.

14:15: Giorgi ELBAKIDZE (GEO) hangs on for a 5-4 win against U20 world champion Kanan HEYBATOV (AZE) at 70kg. Earlier at 57kg, Giorgi GEGELASHVILI (GEO) avenged his U23 European final loss against Horst LEHR (GER). Gegelashvili was leading 4-3 when he tried a four but Lehr countered. Both wrestlers got two points each. Lehr, still needing a takedown to win, tried a desperate chest wrap but gave up four points. Gegelashvili won 11-6

14:00: Amirali AZARPIRA (IRI) wins 10-0 against Richard VEGH (HUN) and moves into the semifinals at 97kg. On Mat C, Matthews with a comeback against Askarov won made it 4-3 and tried scoring a takedown but Askarov with an ankle pick and win 6-4. On Mat A, Starocci moves into the semifinal with a 7-1 win over Balta.

13:55: Big matches going on concurrently. Cole MATTHEWS (USA) has Adlan ASKAROV (KAZ) at 65kg on Mat C. Defending champion Amirali AZARPIRA (IRI) wrestling Richard VEGH (HUN) at 97kg on Mat B and Carter STAROCCI (USA) is up against Abdulvasi BALTA (TUR) at 79kg.

13:50: Erik ARUSHANIAN (UKR) and Dominik LARITZ (SUI) wrestled for only two minutes and 13 seconds but racked up 16 points. Arushanian wins 16-4 to move into the quarterfinals at 65kg.

13:45: Amirmohammad YAZDANI (IRI) has to show up back on the mat in a quick time. He wrestles Kota TAKAHASHI (JPN) at 70kg. He has takedown but also gives up one. He leads 5-3 at the break. He then makes it 7-3 but Takahashi answers with two takedowns to lead 7-7. Yazdani with a suplex for 4! Two exposures on Takahashi make it 15-7. Yazdani wins 17-7

13:37: More action at 57kg as Bekzat ALMAZ UULU (KGZ) beats Vitali ARUJAU (USA) 11-6 to set up a quarterfinal against Munkh Erdene BATKHUYAG (MGL) while AMAN (IND) moves into the quarterfinal against Abe.

13:30: Ahmad MOHAMMADNEZHAD (IRI) is wrestling world bronze medalist Horst LEHR (GER). A 2-2 first period with Lehr leading on criteria. Horst with a five! He goes behind Mohammadnezhad and launches a suplex. Perfection. He gives up a takedown but leads 7-4. He moves on with a 9-4 win.

13:15: Amirmohammad YAZDANI (IRI) and Syrbaz TALGAT (KAZ) going down on Mat C at 70kg. Yazdani starts with a takedown before Talgat adds a stepout. Yazdani with a stepout and takedown to lead 5-3 at the break. Talgat starts the second period with a stepout. Yazdani answers with a double leg for two. A single leg for Talgat and he scores a stepout. Yazdani leads 7-5 and shoots a low attack and converts it into a takedown. Talgat tries to attack but is easily countered by Yazdani who now leads 11-5. Yazdani ends it with a 15-5 technical superiority win

13:00: These 65kg quarterfinals!

Cole MATTHEWS (USA) vs. Adlan ASKAROV (KAZ)
Erik ARUSHANIAN (UKR) vs. Dominik LARITZ (SUI)
Vazgen TEVANYAN (ARM) vs. Ryoma ANRAKU (JPN)
Hamza ALACA (TUR) vs. Samuel ALVAREZ (PUR) 

12:50: Former U20 world champion Toshiya ABE (JPN) begins with a 6-0 win against Logan SLOAN (CAN) at 57kg. He moves closer to a rematch against Vitali ARAJAU (USA) who he beat to win the U20 gold.

12:30: At 97kg, Richard VEGH (HUN) pulls off a last-second move to beat Radu LEFTER (MDA) 7-6. Lefter was the returning silver medalist. But the returning gold medalist Amirali AZARPIRA (IRI) moves into the quarterfinals with a 12-2 win over Vasyl SOVA (UKR)  

11:55: Vagzen TEVANYAN (ARM) and Adlan ASKAROV (KAZ) continue their winning runs and move into the quarterfinals at 65kg. On Mat A, Ahmad MOHAMMADNEZHAD (IRI) scores a late exposure after getting thrown for four to win 5-4 against Manvel KHNDZRTSYAN (ARM) at 57kg.

11:35: At 70kg, Kota TAKAHASHI (JPN) works up a 7-4 win over European silver medalist Arman ANDREASYAN (ARM). Takahashi has a win over world champion Taishi NARIKUNI (JPN). The next bout is between Hibiki ITO (JPN) and Ertugrul AGCA (GER) at 97kg. Ito, towering 1.95 meters, is the child of a former Olympic wrestler and an Olympic bronze medalist Volleyball player. He has built a 4-2 at the break against Agca. A double-leg attack from Agca gives him a 4-4 criteria lead. A late stepout from a tiring Agca seals it even as Ito tried to get a takedown.

11:25: On Mat A, Vagzen TEVANYAN (ARM) with a dominant 10-0 win over  Daniel COLES (CAN) at 65kg. He is followed by Adlan ASKAROV (KAZ) who also notches up a technical superiority win over Constantin CHIRILOV (BUL)

11:15: A quick 10-0 technical superiority win for senior and U23 European champion Georgios KOUGIOUMTSIDIS (GRE) over Zsombor NAGY (HUN) at 79kg, 

11:00: Erik ARUSHANIAN (UKR), the U20 world champion from 2019, gets started with a 10-0 win over Ivan BADAVROV (BUL) at 65kg.

10:50: A thriller to begin the day! Former U17 world champion Hamza ALACA (TUR) had raced to a lead before Kian MAHMOUD (IRI) mounted a comeback. Alaca struggled with his conditioning but he held on for an 8-7 win.

10:30: Another exciting morning here in Pontevedra. The action on the mat is in the same line with 57kg, 65kg, 70kg, 79kg and 97kg weight classes in action.

#WrestleAmman

U17 Worlds: Another Petriashvili rises; U.S. beats Iran for FS team title

By Vinay Siwach

AMMAN, Jordan (August 25) -- A new Petriashvili is on the block. The younger brother of the newly crowned Olympic champion Geno PETRIASHVILI (GEO), Konstantine, became the U17 world champion on Sunday in Amman.

The younger Petriashvili showed exceptional wrestling, identical to Geno, over two days to win the 92kg weight class and win his first world title.

Last year, he finished with a bronze medal in the 80kg weight class but jumped to 92kg this year. He won the U17 European Championships in Novi Sad in July and now has both the continental and world titles. Petriashvili is set to compete at the U20 World Championships next week in Pontevedra, Spain.

In other finals, the United States won two gold medals, Iran captured one while Kyrgyzstan, which won two golds on Saturday, added another on Sunday.

The United States won the team title with 152 points, 20 more than second-place Iran. Kyrgyzstan finished third with 104 points, its first-ever podium finish at the U17 World Championships.

In the final, Petriashvili was up against Rodion SANAKOEV (AIN) and constantly hit the double-leg attack. He scored no success using that attack and was put on the activity clock in the first period.

As Sanakoev built an attack, Petriashvili defended well and scored exposure for two points. He led 2-0 at the break and defended every attack from Sanakoev to keep the two-point lead. Petriashvili got a takedown in the final 30 seconds after Sanakoev failed to defend using chest wrap. He scored two turns to extend his lead to 8-0 as the clock expired.

Konstantine PETRIASHVILI (GEO)Konstantine PETRIASHVILI (GEO) defeated Rodion SANAKOEV (AIN) 8-0 in the 92kg final. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kadir Caliskan)

"I am Konstantine. U17 world champion. Last year I won the bronze medal," a jubilant Petriashvili said after the final. "The final was very difficult. I was tired in the middle."

After winning the final, Konstantine broke out in a celebration similar to Geno's, punching his fist in the air with a roar.

"My brother is the best and king of wrestling," he said. "I have no pressure. I think its good when they tell me I am Geno's brother."

Samuel SANCHEZ (USA)Samuel SANCHEZ (USA) celebrates after winning the 45kg gold medal at the U17 World Championships. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kadir Caliskan)

U.S. wins title

Samuel SANCHEZ (USA) had to come from behind and Domenic MUNARETTO (USA) won his second U17 world title to held the United States win the team title over Iran, its second in three years.

Sanchez was down 5-0 against Amirabbas RAMEZANI (IRI) after the first period in the final but came back strongly in the second period. He cut the lead to two points after Ramezani was penalized for a singlet pull and he gave up a takedown.

Ramezani defended most of the period but Sanchez hit a smart go-behind and exposure to make it 7-5. A turn using trap-arm gave him a 9-5 lead which he defended till the clock expired.

Domenic MUNARETTO (USA)Domenic MUNARETTO (USA) defeated Frederick BACHMANN (PUR) in the 51kg final. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kadir Caliskan)

Munaretto, who won 45kg gold at the 2022 U17 Worlds, added another by beating Frederick BACHMANN (PUR), 3-1, in the 51kg final.

Bachmann, who was trying to become the first Puerto Rican to win gold at U17 Worlds in 49 years, fell short, a day after his brother Joseph met with the same fate in the 55kg final.

Both wrestlers were put on activity clocks but it was Munaretto who got the advantage as Bachmann was on the clock in the second period. This gave Munaretto a 1-1 criteria lead. Bachmann tried his best to score a point but failed and a desperate attempt in the final second saw him fall on his back, which gave Munaretto another two points.

With a clean record in the final, Munaretto completed an incredible run in the tournament in which he did not given up a takedown for any points.

"I have been wrestling a lot," Munaretto said. "I have control of my ties."

Abolfazl SHAMSIPOUR (IRI)Abolfazl SHAMSIPOUR (IRI) won the gold medal at 71kg. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kadir Caliskan)

Iran crowned a champion at 71kg after U17 Asian champion Abolfazl SHAMSIPOUR (IRI) defeated returning bronze medalist Manuel WAGIN (GER), 1-1 in the final. Shamsipour denied Germany its first-ever U17 world champion in Freestyle.

The final was decided after Shamsipour was awarded a point for Wagin's passivity, in the second period, giving the Iranian a 1-1 criteria lead. There were no more points in the match and Shamsipour won 1-1.

Omurbek ASAN UULU (KGZ)Omurbek ASAN UULU (KGZ) gave Kyrgyzstan its third gold of the U17 World Championships. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kadir Caliskan)

Kyrgyzstan added a gold and a bronze medal to its two golds from Saturday and finished third in the team race. After Kursantbek ISAKOV (KGZ) at 55kg and Rustamzhan KAKHAROV (KGZ) at 65kg won gold medals, Omurbek ASAN UULU (KGZ) won the gold medal at 60kg while Marlen ABDRAIMOV (KGZ) won bronze at 51kg.

Asan  Uluu was up against Huseyn ISMAYILOV (AZE) in the final and at no point he was in any sort of trouble in the match. He scored a takedown and stepout in the first period to lead 3-0. He went for a bear hug throw but Ismayilov slipped out of the grip and Asan Uulu fell out of bounds to give one point to the Azerbaijan wrestler.

A stepout made it 4-1 for Asan Uulu and a point at the end of the bout gave him the 5-1 lead and the gold medal.

df

RESULTS

45kg
GOLD: Samuel SANCHEZ (USA) df. Amirabbas RAMEZANI (IRI), 9-5

BRONZE: Dzhamal BAKAEV (AIN) df. Mher HAKOBYAN (ARM), 11-0
BRONZE: Ravan HASANZADE (AZE) df. Bekzat AMANGELDY (KAZ), via fall (4-6)

51kg
GOLD: Domenic MUNARETTO (USA) df. Frederick BACHMANN (PUR), 3-1

BRONZE: Jinnosuke OKONOGI (JPN) df. Akhmed ATANGERIEV (AIN), 7-4
BRONZE: Marlen ABDRAIMOV (KGZ) df. Ozodbek ALIJONOV (UZB), 17-6

60kg
GOLD: Omurbek ASAN UULU (KGZ) df. Huseyn ISMAYILOV (AZE), 5-1

BRONZE: Hayk AVANESYAN (ARM) df. Danoush JOWKAR (GBR), 5-2
BRONZE: Itsuki YONASHIRO (JPN) df. Jordyn RANEY (USA), via inj. def.

71kg
GOLD: Abolfazl SHAMSIPOUR (IRI) df. Manuel WAGIN (GER), 1-1

BRONZE: Fatih AYDIN (TUR) df. Mark LAPOSA (HUN), 6-5
BRONZE: Kairi ITO (JPN) df. Melvin MILLER (USA), 7-2

92kg
GOLD: Konstantine PETRIASHVILI (GEO) df. Rodion SANAKOEV (AIN), 8-0

BRONZE: Elijah DIAKOMIHALIS (USA) df. Aliaksei KHADUNOU (AIN), 8-3
BRONZE: Amir Reza ALI POUR (IRI) df. Michealjeet Singh GREWAL (CAN), 10-5