#YasarDogu

USA Stars Pick up Pair of Freestyle Titles; Akgul Locks up #WrestleNurSultan Third Seed

By Eric Olanowski

ISTANBUL, Turkey (July 13) --- John DIAKOMIHALIS (USA) and Alexander DIERINGER (USA) won a pair of gold medals on the third day of wrestling at the Yasar Dogu and helped the United States close Turkey’s lead to 40 points heading into the closing day of wrestling in Istanbul. 

Diakomihalis, who defeated and ultimately outplaced the United States’ current world team member Zain RETHERFORD (USA), won his gold medal in anticlimactic fashion -- picking up the title after Haji ALI (BRN) forfeited out of the 65kg finals, while “Ringer” scored the 4-1 win over Akhsarbek GULAEV (SVK) in the 79kg gold-medal bout. 

With his win on Saturday, Dieringer now has a pair of 2019 Ranking Series titles to his name. He also won Dan Kolov earlier this year. In addition to his pair of Ranking Series titles, Dieringer finished in third place at the Ivan Yariguin. 

Dieringer’s focus now moves to August 17, when he takes on reigning world champion Kyle DAKE (USA) for the United States’ 79kg Nur-Sultan world team spot.

Olympic champion Taha AKGUL (TUR) won the 125kg gold medal and locked up the No. 3 seed at the World Championships. (Photo: Kadir Caliskan) 

Olympic champion Taha AKGUL (TUR) halted Nicholas GWIAZDOWSKI'S (USA) quest to give America their third gold medal of the day – scoring the 5-1 victory in the 125kg finals. 

Akgul picked up a pair of low-level takedowns and an inactivity point in the finals and locked up a top-four seed at the World Championships. The Turkish big man brought 50 Ranking Series points into Istanbul and only needed one point to ensure he was on the opposite side of the bracket at the World Championships of his nemesis Geno PETRIASHVILI (GEO). Coming into the Yasar Dogu, Taha and Russia's third-ranked Anzor KHIZRIEV were tied, but the Russian held the criteria advantage (highest World Championships placement) because of his fifth-place finish at the Budapest World Championships. 

Taha broke that tie by earning 14 Ranking Series and will now be the third-seeded wrestler at the World Championships behind Petriashvili and DENG Zhiwei (CHN), who are ranked first and second, respectively. 

Also of note at 125kg, Gwiazdowski claimed 12 Ranking Series points and overthrew Khizriev for the fourth seed at the World Championships. He’ll be on the top-side of the bracket in Nur-Sultan with reigning two-time world champion Geno Petriashvili. 

Vinesh VINESH (IND) won the 53kg gold medal and helped Indian win their third women's wrestling title. (Photo: Kadir Caliskan) 

Meanwhile, Vinesh VINESH (IND) joined fellow Indian wrestlers Seema SEEMA (IND) and Kumari MANJU (IND) in the winner’s circle after stopping Ekaterina POLESHCHUK (RUS), 9-4 in the 53kg gold-medal bout. 

Vinesh put the match's first point on the board with an inactivity point but quickly fell behind after giving up a takedown. She returned the favor with a double leg and regained the lead, 3-2. The seven-time Asian medalist worked down to Poleshchuk’s ankles after a slick double-leg and leg laced three times. She commanded the 9-2 advantage after the first period. 

The Indian wrestler failed to score in the second period, and conceded a takedown and a step out, but hung on to win her first Ranking Series title, 9-5. Vinesh's gold medal at the Yasar Dogu was an improvement on her placement from the Dan Kolov, where she fell in the gold-medal bout and had to settle for a silver medal. 

Odunayo ADEKUOROYE (NGR) won the 57kg Yasar Dogu title and moved into the top four of the world rankings. (Photo: Kadir Caliskan)

Adekuoroye Ascends to Top-Four After Winning Gold at 57kg 
Odunayo ADEKUOROYE (NGR) picked up the opening period technical superiority victory over European silver medalist, Tetyana KIT (UKR) in the 57kg finals. The Nigerian Paris world runner-up was leading 2-0 when she shot an open double and transitioned into three leg laces -- ending the match, 10-0. Unfortunately, after the third lace, Kit immediately grabbed her left laced and was grimacing in pain and had to be carried off the mat. 

Adekuoroye entered the Yasar Dogu as the fifth-ranked wrestler in the world at 57kg, but after collecting the 16 first-place points, she’ll move into a top-four seed in Nur-Sultan. 

Henna JOHANSSON (SWE) defeated Marianna SASTIN (HUN) and won her third Ranking Series title of the season. (Photo: Kadir Caliskan)

Johansson Wins Third Ranking Series Title; Mamashuk Outlasts Lappage in 68kg Finals
Henna JOHANSSON (SWE) won her third Ranking Series gold medal of the year with a 2-0 victory over Marianna SASTIN (HUN) in the 62kg finals, while Rio bronze medalist Maryia MAMASHUK (BLR) outlasted world runner-up Danielle LAPPAGE (CAN), 1-1 in the 68kg finals. 

The final day of wrestling begins tomorrow at 12:30 (local time) and can be followed live on www.unitedworldwrestling.org.

RESULTS 

Freestyle
65kg 
GOLD - John DIAKOMIHALIS (USA) df. Haji Mohamad ALI (BRN), via injury default
BRONZE - Ismail MUSUKAEV (HUN) df. Ali RAHIMZADE (AZE), 8-0
BRONZE - Cengizhan ERDOGAN (TUR) df. Sonba GONGANE (IND), 10-0       

79kg
GOLD - Alexander David DIERINGER (USA) df. Akhsarbek GULAEV (SVK)
BRONZE - Bahman Mohammad TEYMOURI (IRI) df. Abubakr ABAKAROV (AZE), 7-4
BRONZE - Muhammet KOTANOGLU (TUR) df. Abdulkadir OZMEN (TUR), 5-2 

125kg
GOLD - Taha AKGUL (TUR) df. Nicholas Edward GWIAZDOWSKI (USA), 5-1
BRONZE - Daniel LIGETI (HUN) df. Yadollah MOHEBI (IRI), 10-1
BRONZE - Sumit SUMIT (IND) df. Fatih CAKIROGLU (TUR), via forfeit  

Women’s Wrestling 
53kg
GOLD - Vinesh VINESH (IND) df. Ekaterina POLESHCHUK (RUS), 9-4 
BRONZE - Annika WENDLE (GER) df. Liliya HORISHNA (UKR), via fall
BRONZE - Nina HEMMER (GER) df. Iryna HUSYAK (UKR), 9-2

57kg
GOLD - Odunayo Folasade ADEKUOROYE (NGR) df. Tetyana KIT (UKR), 10-0 
BRONZE - Olga KHOROSHAVTSEVA (RUS) df. Lissette ANTES CASTILLO (ECU), 4-2
BRONZE - Sandra PARUSZEWSKI (GER) df. Emese BARKA (HUN), via injury default 

62kg
GOLD - Henna Katarina JOHANSSON (SWE) df. Marianna SASTIN (HUN), 2-0 
BRONZE - Uliana TUKURENOVA (RUS) df. Anzhela FOMENKO (RUS), 3-1 
BRONZE - Veranika IVANOVA (BLR) df. Lais NUNES DE OLIVEIRA (BRA), 9-7

68kg
GOLD - Maryia MAMASHUK (BLR) df. Danielle Suzanne LAPPAGE (CAN), 1-1 
BRONZE - Blessing OBORUDUDU (NGR) df. Alina BEREZHNA STADNIK MAKHYNIA (UKR), 10-0 
BRONZE - Anna Carmen SCHELL (GER) df. Rihem AYARI (TUN),  via fall 

Islamic Solidarity Games 2025 Day 4: Tazhudinov, Ghasempour lose

By Vinay Siwach

RIYADH, Saudi Arabia (November 21) -- The final day at the Islamic Solidarity Games 2025 will see four Freestyle weight classes in action -- 74kg, 86kg, 97kg and 125kg. Every weight class has a world champion wrestling today.

WATCH LIVE | LIVE MATCH ORDER

12:50: Akhmed TAZHUDINOV (BRN) drops his semifinal against Rizabek AITMUKHAN (KAZ) 15-3. Aitmukhan with three exposure for six points in the second period. Tazhudinov struggled to finish his attacks. We have a Amirali AZARPIRA (IRI) vs Rizabek AITMUKHAN (KAZ) final.

12:40: World silver medalist Amirali AZARPIRA (IRI) with a lace to beat Rifat GIDAK (TUR) 11-0 and enter the final at 97kg.

12:37: Arsenii DZHIOEV (AZE) reaches the 86kg final with an 5-1 win over Magomet EVLOEV (TJK) in the semifinal. Dzhioev will now take on Saipudunov for the gold medal.

12:33: Another Bahrain wrestler in the final as Khidir SAIPUDINOV (BRN) survives an late onslaught from Osman GOCEN (TUR) and wins 8-6 at 86kg. Gocen got a four-pointer which kept him in the match which was otherwise dominated by Saipudinov

12:30: Top match at 74kg semifinal as Younes EMAMI (IRI) holds off Norkhoza KAIPONOV (KAZ) 6-5. Kaiponov was up 4-1 and scored a stepout to make it 5-1. Emami got a stepout to make it 5-2 and a beautiful duckunder to close it to 5-4. He continued the action and used a gut-wrench to make it 6-5 with less than a minute remaining. He defended his lead to enter the final in which he will take on Aghanazar NOVRUZOV (AZE)

12:22: Aghanazar NOVRUZOV (AZE) with a takedown in the final 10 seconds to upset Magomedrasul ASLUEV (BRN) who was leading 5-2 till the last 30 seconds. The takedown gave Novruzov a 5-5 criteria lead before Asluev tried to hit exposure. Novruzov got an counter exposure for the 7-5 win. 

12:15: Amir Hossein ZARE (IRI) is into the 125kg final after a 7-0 blanking of Hakan BUYUKCINGIL (TUR) in the semifinal. Easy win for the world champion

12:11: World silver medalist Giorgi MESHVILDISHVILI (AZE) goes down 7-6 against Shamil SHARIPOV (BRN) in the 125kg semifinal. Sharipov scored a four-pointer and led 5-0. But in Meshvildishvili comes back in the second period to make it 6-4 and needed three points for a win. He scored a takedown to make it 6-6 but was down on criteria. In the final 10 seconds, he was close to scoring two times but Sharipov managed to defend. A lost challenge gave him another point.

12:06: Rizabek AITMUKHAN (KAZ) downs Olympic bronze medalist Mogomedkhan MAGOMEDOV (AZE) 12-2 at 97kg. Aitmukhan with a four-pointer and three takedowns in his victory. Solid defense as well whenever Magomedov seemed threatening.

11:55: Akhmed TAZHUDINOV (BRN) with a cradle to get the fall over Abossolo CEDRIC (CMR) in the second period of his 97kg quarterfinal.

11:50: Amirali AZARPIRA (IRI) wins his quarterfinal at 97kg against Muhammad GULZAR (PAK) 11-0 after three rolls from par terre. He will wrestle Rifat GIDAK (TUR) who defeated Oucif HOUSSEM (ALG) 13-2

11:42: After taking out Kamran GHASEMPOUR (IRI), Arsenii DHZIOEV (AZE) continues his winning run and enters the semifinal at 86kg with an 11-0 victory over Benferdjallah FATEH (ALG)

11:30: Younes EMAMI (IRI) with an strong defensive performance as he beats Orozbek TOKTOMAMBETOV (KGZ), 5-2, at 74kg. Emami got a point every time he seemed passive in the match.

11:20: Amir Hossein ZARE (IRI) powers his way to a 10-0 victory over Arslanbek TURDUBEKOV (KGZ) at 125kg. World champion Zare is a strong favorite to win gold here.

11:18: Magomedrasul ASLUEV (BRN) stops Shams QURAISHI (AFG) from more upsets but not after an incredible match. Quraishi managed to score 9 points on Asluev before dropping his bout 12-9

11:10: Olympic champion Akhmed TAZHUDINOV (BRN) opens his 97kg with an 11-1 technical superiority win over 92kg U20 world champion Sherzod POYONOV (UZB).

11:00: Amirali AZARPIRA (IRI) works his incredible underhook and manages an easy 11-0 victory over Iqbal AHMADI (AFG) at 97kg. Azarpira is a world silver medalist from Zagreb.

10:50: Former world 92kg champion Rizabek AITMUKHAN (KAZ) makes it look easy rolling to a 10-0 win over Mohamed SALAHELDIN (EGY) at 97kg.

10:45: Arsenii DZHIOEV (AZE) takes out Kamran GHASEMPOUR (IRI) in the opening bout at 86kg. In a bout of two halves, Ghasempour got a takedown and passivity point in opening period before Dzhioev scored a takedown during Ghasempour's activity time to lead 3-3 on criteria with just over a minute left. Ghasempour tried a desperate leg attack at the end only to give a takedown and hand the win to Dzhioev

10:37: Osman GOCEN (TUR) hangs on for a 2-2 criteria win over Bobur ISLOMOV (UZB) at 86kg. It was a scramble in which both wrestlers were awarded two points each with Gocen getting it later and holding the criteria. No points were scored in the second period but both wrestler were involved in scrambles. Gocen manages to hold off and win.

10:33: Haider BUTT (PAK) led 3-0 against Farhad MALIK ZADA (AFG) and on the way to give Afghanistan it's first win of the tournament. However, Malik Zada with a comeback and beats the Pakistan wrestler 8-4 at 86kg.

10:25: Orozbek TOKTOMAMBETOV (KGZ) took his own time but he manages to beat Khaireddine BEN TLILI (TUN), 11-1, in their 74kg. A four-pointer in the first period for Toktomambetov

10:15: Nurkozha KAIPANOV (KAZ), one of the four world champs in action today, starts off with an 11-0 victory over Jafar CHULIBOYEV (UZB) at 74kg. He got a stepout before a takedown and four turns.

10:10: Afghanistan is really having a solid Games for itself. After some impressive wins yesterday and a fifth-place finish, Shams QURAISHI (AFG) gets a fall at 74kg against Omar MOURAD (EGY).

10:00: Last day of the ISG 2025 with four weight classes in Freestyle. Akhmed TAZHUDINOV (BRN) vs Amirali AZARPIRA (IRI) likely to face in the 97kg.