#DanKolov2019

United States and Ukraine Grab Lead Heading into Final Day

By Eric Olanowski

RUSE, Bulgaria (March 2) - The United States, on the back of their four-time world and Olympic champion Jordan BURROUGHS (USA), gained the 20 point advantage over the Russian Federation heading into the fourth and final day of competition at the Dan Kolov.  

Burroughs outlasted Bekzod ABDURAKHMONOV (UZB) in the battle of reigning world bronze medalists and won the 74kg title. 

The American put the first points on the board, countering a shot attempt from Abdurakhmonov and gained control of the 2-0 lead. Burroughs surrendered a takedown but closed out the first period with a step out of his own, and led 3-2. In the second period, the Olympic champion scored an early step out and increased his lead to 4-2.  Burroughs gave up a fleeing the hold call with under 10 seconds left, but his one-point advantage was enough to give the United States their second Dan Kolov freestyle gold medal.   

The United States also had a second finalist in Jordan OLIVER. Oliver took on India’s returning world finalist Bajrang PUNIA in the 65kg gold-medal bout. The pair were even after the first period, but the Indian wrestler erupted for nine unanswered points in the final period to win the match, 12-3. 

Georgia’s Beka BUJIASHVILI (GEO) won the last freestyle gold medal of the day. In the 57kg finals, Bujiashvili upset returning world medalist and third-ranked Suleyman ATLI (TUR), 6-4.

In women's wrestling, Ukraine gained the 16 point lead over Turkey, thanks to reigning world bronze medalist Yuliia TKACH OSTAPCHUK's gold-medal performance in the 62kg finals. 

In the finals, the 2014 world champion prevailed over reigning world champion Taybe YUSEIN (BUL), 4-2, and captured her third Ranking Series title in the past two seasons. She also won the last year’s Poland and China Open’s, while also finishing in second place at the Klippan Lady Open. 

Tkach Ostapchuk, the four-time world medalist, led 3-0 after collecting an inactivity point in the first and high crotch in the second. But, she found herself fighting off a late flurry of attacks - one of which Yusein capitalized on and closed the gap to 3-2. A failed Bulgarian challenge with under 10 second left gave Tkach Ostapchuk a two-point cushion, and ultimately, the 4-2 victory. 

Turkey sits in second place heading into the final day of wrestling in Ruse. Yasemin ADAR, Turkey's 2017 world champion, scored a fall over China's Paliha PALIHA (CHN) in the 76kg gold-medal bout and handed Turkey their second gold medal of the Dan Kolov. 

Tamyra MENSAH-Stock (USA) was the second American Day Three champion, but her title-winning performance came in women’s wrestling. Mensah-Stock won her second consecutive Ranking Series title in dominant fashion, toppling Uzbekistan’s Bakhtigul BALTANIYAZOVA, 11-1, in the 68kg gold-medal bout. 

Mensah Stock led 7-1 after the first, then tacked on a quick takedown and exposure to reach the top of the podium at her second straight Ranking Series event. 

Wrestling resumes tomorrow in Ruse at 10:30 (local time). The Day Four finals will begin right after the completion of the repechages matches.

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Schedule

March 3 (Sunday) 
8:00 - Weigh-in 2 - FS - 86, 97, 125; GR (+ 2 kg) - 60, 67, 77kg; WW - 50, 53, 57kg
10:30 - Repechages - FS - 86, 97, 125; GR (+ 2 kg) - 60, 67, 77 kg; WW - 50, 53, 57kg
10:30 - Final matches and awarding ceremony - FS - 86, 97, 125; GR - 60, 67, 77 kg; WW - 50, 53, 57kg

RESULTS

Freestyle 

Team Scores 
GOLD - United States (110 points)
SILVER - Russia (90 points)
BRONZE - Turkey (80 points)
Fourth - Georgia (64 points)
Fifth - Uzbekistan (50 points)

57kg 
GOLD - Beka BUJIASHVILI (GEO) df. Suleyman ATLI (TUR), 6-4
BRONZE - Georgi Valentinov VANGELOV (BUL) df. Gulomjon ABDULLAEV (UZB), 6 - 5
BRONZE - Armen ARAKELIAN (UKR) df. Zoheir EL OUARRAQE (FRA), 12-8 

65kg
GOLD - Bajrang BAJRANG (IND) vs. Jordan OLIVER (USA), 12-3 
BRONZE - Bernard FUTRELL (USA) df. Selahattin KILICSALLAYAN (TUR), 16-6
BRONZE - Niurhun SKRABIN (BLR) df. Eduard GRIGOREV (RUS), 11-0 

74kg
GOLD -  Jordan Ernest BURROUGHS (USA) df. Bekzod ABDURAKHMONOV (UZB), 4-3 
BRONZE - Yakup GOR (TUR)  df. Mostafa HOSSEINKHANI (IRI), via fall
BRONZE - Frank CHAMIZO MARQUEZ (ITA) df. Ali UMARPASHAEV (BUL), 13-2 

Women’s Wrestling 

Team Scores 
GOLD - Ukraine (76 points)
SILVER - Turkey (60 points)
BRONZE - China (56 points)
Fourth - India (45 points)
Fifth - Sweden  (43 points)

62kg 
GOLD - Yuliia TKACH OSTAPCHUK (UKR) df. Taybe YUSEIN (BUL), 4-2
BRONZE -  PEI  Xingru (CHN) vs. Elis MANOLOVA (AZE), 4-0 
BRONZE - Aisuluu TYNYBEKOVA (KGZ) df. Malin MATTSSON (SWE), 4-1 

68kg 
GOLD -  Tamyra Mariama MENSAH (USA) df. Bakhtigul BALTANIYAZOVA (UZB), 11-1 
BRONZE - Adela HANZLICKOVA (CZE) df. Agnieszka WIESZCZEK KORDUS (POL), 5-1 
BRONZE - Alla CHERKASOVA (UKR) df. Danute DOMIKAITYTE (LTU), 8-1 

76kg
GOLD - Yasemin ADAR (TUR) df. Paliha PALIHA (CHN), via fall 
BRONZE - Aline ROTTER FOCKEN (GER) df. WANG Juan (CHN), 7-2 

BRONZE - Elmira SYZDYKOVA (KAZ) df. Iselin Maria Moen SOLHEIM (NOR), 8-2 

#WrestlePontevedra

U20 Worlds: Zakriev dominates to gold; Abdevali repeats

By Vinay Siwach

PONTEVEDRA, Spain (September 3) -- Erzu ZAKRIEV (AIN) was unsure if he would be participating in the U20 World Championships. Zakriev began preparing only two days before the start of the tournament in Spain.

"We were told that we wouldn’t come here," Zakriev said. "I went into relaxed mode. It was only three days before we were told that we could go. The way was really long and difficult, we were cutting weight at the airport. We had to change four flights on our way. We arrived at midnight and early next day I had my first match in the morning. I didn’t even have time to rest."

Zakriev did not show any signs of distress as he began the competition with a technical superiority win and reached the final with two more wins. On Tuesday, the 19-year-old won the gold medal at 63kg in Pontevedra, Spain, being the final against Otto BLACK (USA) 8-0.

A minute into the final and Zakriev had Black on the backfoot with a stepout and takedown. Black never got a chance to come back into the final as Zakriev finished it in two minutes and 40 seconds.

Erzu ZAKRIEV (AIN)Erzu ZAKRIEV (AIN) tries to complete a throw against Otto BLACK (USA) in the 63kg final. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kadir Caliskan)

"I was very confident," he said. "Last year I was third at the national championships, and this year I finished first. I haven’t lost any single match for a year now."

The dominance of Zakriev was evident in the U20 European Championships as well as he outscored his opponents 29-0 in four bouts, winning the gold medal over Anri KHOZREVANIDZE (GEO), an opponent he defeated 16-4 in the semifinals on Monday.

Hailing from Chechnya, Zakriev grew up in Goyty village and began training after his parents took him to the academy when he was eight years old.

"I will be moving to the Olympic weight class of 67kg from next year," he said.

The United States suffered another heartbreak in the final as Isaiah CORTEZ (USA) lost the 55kg final against Ali AHMADI VAFA (IRI).

Unlike Black, Cortez had his chances to take the lead against Ahmadi Vafa in the final. He even had the Iranian in a fall position but failed to finish it. Ahmadi Vafa eventually won the final 11-3 in a match that was closer than the scoreline shows.

Ahmadi Vafa got the first par terre advantage and he used a high gut-wrench to take a 5-0 lead over Cortez. He used an arm spin to score two more points to make the lead 7-0. Cortez cut it to 7-2 just before the break with exposure.

Cortez, however, failed to score from par terre and Ahmadi Vafa led 7-3 with 1:25 left on the clock. Two desperate bodylock throws ended up in Cortez giving up points.

Ali AHMADI VAFA (IRI)Ali AHMADI VAFA (IRI) scores two points over Isaiah CORTEZ (USA) in the 55kg final. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kadir Caliskan)

"I wrestled really well to reach the final. I had analyzed my American opponent’s wrestling style, and thank God, I was able to wrestle with the best results and win the gold medal," Ahmadi Vafa said.

A former U17 world champion, Ahmadi Vafa finished without a medal last year at the U20 Worlds. A gold medal in Pontevedra gave him some relief from his medalless campaign from last year.

"Last year, I couldn’t win a good medal and lost in the world championships," he said. "This year, I managed to win gold. Next year, I have the junior competitions again, but my main goal is to be selected for the senior competitions."

This was the first time since 2017 that the U.S. had two finalists in Greco-Roman at the U20 World Championships. Kamal BEY (USA) won the title in 2017. However, the wait for a new U20 world champion just grew for the U.S.

Alireza ABDEVALI (IRI)Alireza ABDEVALI (IRI) won his second U20 world gold medal at 77kg. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kadir Caliskan)

Defending U20 world champion Alireza ABDEVALI (IRI) added the second gold medal, winning the 77kg weight class. Wrestling Magomed IARBILOV (AIN) in the final, Abdevali got the par terre advantage but failed to score and Iarbilov scored a reversal to lead 1-1 on criteria.

Abdevali scored an arm-drag takedown in the second period to lead 3-1 and defended it till the end of the time to win his second gold medal at this level.

"I feel great that I was able to win my second world championship medal," he said. "It felt even better than when I won the first time. I’m just at the beginning of my journey, and there’s a long way to go until the Olympics."

Alireza is the fourth of the five Abdevali brothers but said that he felt no pressure to win because of his family name.

"I didn’t feel any pressure. My older brother, Saeid, is a great wrestler, and he gives me motivation and spirit to be a fighter."

Laszlo DARABOS (HUN) Laszlo DARABOS (HUN) scores on Abolfazl FATHITAZANGI (IRI) in the 130kg final. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Jake Kirkman)

Iran could have won three gold medals on Tuesday but former U20 European champion Laszlo DARABOS (HUN) denied Abolfazl FATHITAZANGI (IRI), 5-3, in the 130kg final.

Darabos trailed 3-0 at the break after giving up a turn from par terre. However, when he got the par terre in the second period, he turned Fathitazangi twice and took a 5-3 lead and defended it.

This is the first U20 world champion for Hungary since 2019 and the first since 2012 in the highest weight class.

Asan ZHANYSHOV (KGZ)Asan ZHANYSHOV (KGZ) won the 87kg gold medal after beating Joju SAMADOV (AZE) in the final. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Jake Kirkman)

Zhanyshov upgrades

Returning bronze medalist Asan ZHANYSHOV (KGZ) upgraded to gold after he defeated Joju SAMADOV (AZE), 8-0, in the 87kg final to win Kyrgyzstan's first U20 world title in Greco-Roman since 2019. Incidentally, the last U20 world champion -- Erbol BAKIROV (KGZ) -- also hails from the same village, Taygaray, as Zhanyshov.

In the final, Samadov found it difficult to match the pace of Zhanyshov and failed to stop any of his attacks. He gave up five stepouts in the final.

"I had a great training camp with the senior team," Zhanyshov said. "I already have experience wrestling at the senior level. The difference is that on age-group levels you have to be prepared technically, performing throws and moves, while at the senior level that won’t be enough. You have to be physically and functionally very well prepared. So, my level is now senior."

Having trained with world champions Akzhol MAKHMUDOV (KGZ) and Zholaman SHARSHENBEKOV (KGZ), Zhanyshov felt motivated by his seniors and was determined to win the gold medal.

"Makhmudov and Sharshenbekov are my wrestling role models," he said.

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RESULTS

55kg
GOLD: Ali AHMADI VAFA (IRI) df. Isaiah CORTEZ (USA), 11-3

BRONZE: Alibek AMIROV (11) df. Rahim HASANOV (AZE), 10-0
BRONZE: Aibek AITBEKOV (KAZ) df. Maxim SARMANOV (MDA), 10-1

63kg
GOLD: Erzu ZAKRIEV (AIN) df. Otto BLACK (USA), 8-0

BRONZE: Erfan JARKANI (IRI) df. Anri KHOZREVANIDZE (GEO), 6-2
BRONZE: Yurik HOVEYAN (ARM) df. Enes ULKU (TUR), 2-1

77kg
GOLD: Alireza ABDEVALI (IRI) df. Magomed IARBILOV (AIN), 3-1

BRONZE: Levente LEVAI (HUN) df. Irfan MIRZOIEV (UKR), 3-2
BRONZE: Tornike MIKELADZE (GEO) df. Karl BAFF (SWE), 5-3 

87kg
GOLD: Asan ZHANYSHOV (KGZ) df. Joju SAMADOV (AZE), 8-0

BRONZE: Achiko BOLKVADZE (GEO) df. Patrik GORDAN (ROU), 10-0
BRONZE: Ruben GEVORGYAN (ARM) df. Temirlan TURDAKYN (KAZ), 3-1

130kg
GOLD: Laszlo DARABOS (HUN) df. Abolfazl FATHITAZANGI (IRI), 5-3

BRONZE: Aden ATTAO (USA) df. Aleksandr MELEKHOV (AIN), via fall
BRONZE: Samagan ORMONOV (KGZ) df. Aramayis HARUTYUNYAN (ARM), via fall

Semifinals 

60kg
GOLD: Servet ANGI (TUR) vs. Mohammadmehdi GHOLAMPOUR (IRI)

SF 1: Servet ANGI (TUR) df. Ongdassyn KHAMITOV (KAZ), 9-8
SF 2: Mohammadmehdi GHOLAMPOUR (IRI) df. Papik DZHAVADIAN (AIN), 9-8

67kg
GOLD: Ahmadreza MOHSEN NEZHAD (IRI) vs. Yussuf ASHRAPOV (KAZ)

SF 1: Ahmadreza MOHSEN NEZHAD (IRI) df. Kojiro HASEGAWA (JPN), 10-0
SF 2: Yussuf ASHRAPOV (KAZ) df. Grair OGANESIAN (AIN), 7-5

72kg
GOLD: Zaur BESLEKOEV (AIN) vs. Ashot KHACHATRYAN (ARM)

SF 1: Zaur BESLEKOEV (AIN) df. Muhammed GOCMEN (TUR), 1-1
SF 2: Ashot KHACHATRYAN (ARM) df. Ruslan NURULLAYEV (AZE), 4-1

82kg
GOLD: Islam YEVLOYEV (KAZ) vs. Alperen BERBER (TUR)

SF 1: Islam YEVLOYEV (KAZ) df. Abdurakhman ABDULKADYROV (AIN), via inj. def.
SF 2: Alperen BERBER (TUR) df. Taizo YOSHIDA (JPN), 12-0

97kg
GOLD: Yehor YAKUSHENKO (UKR) vs. Darius KIEFER (GER)

SF 1: Yehor YAKUSHENKO (UKR) df. Anatolii AVERIN (AIN), 7-4
SF 2: Darius KIEFER (GER) df. Ahmet EREMEKTER (TUR), via fall