Weekly FIVE!

Weekly FIVE! July 09, 2018

By Eric Olanowski

Taking a look at Iran doubling up on World Championship team titles and Iakobishvili stealing Tbilisi gold from Olympic champ Ramonov. Also looking at reigning world champion Yui SUSAKI (JPN) earning her shot at defending her world title in Budapest. 

1. Reigning World Champ Susaki Rallies Past Irie To Earn Second Straight World Team Spot 
Reigning world champion Yui SUSAKI (JPN) earned a shot at defending her world title after rallying from a four-point deficit, scoring the winning takedown with 15 seconds left to defeat Yuki IRIE (JPN) 6-4 in a special playoff for the women's 50kg spot on Japan's team to the world championships in Budapest in October.

"My feeling right now is that I'm glad I earned the spot on the world championship team and that this year I will win a second straight world title," Susaki said.

This weekend's win comes after the 19-year-old was dealt a stunning loss by technical fall to Irie in the Emperor's Cup semifinals. She avenged that defeat with a victory by fall in the final at the Meiji Cup to set up the featured showdown of the playoffs where she was victorious (6-4) in earning her second straight world team spot. 

JAPAN'S WORLD TEAM ROSTER 

Mohammad NOSRATI (IRI) celebrates after winning the 92kg Greco-Roman gold medal. (Photo by Max Rose-Fyne) 

2. Iran Doubles up on Cadet World Team Titles
Iran capped off the 2018 Cadet World Championships in dominant fashion, winning team titles in both freestyle and Greco-Roman. 

In freestyle, Iran claimed three gold medals from four finalists, including wins from Rahman AMOUZADKHALILI (IRI) at 48kg and Ali Reza ABDOLLAHI (IRI) at 92kg on the final day, helping the Iraniaseparateate themselves in the team race. 

Iran then followed up their freestyle performance up by capping off the Greco-Roman portion of the tournament with four finalists and two champions, finishing 22-points ahead of the second-place finishers, Russia (108 points).  

News and Highlights 

Nonoka OZAKI (JPN) was one of six Japanese female wrestlers to capture a gold medal at the 2018 Cadet World Championships. (Photo by Max Rose-Fyne) 

3. Japan Women Collect Six Cadet Gold Medals 
Japan scooped up their eighth-consecutive Cadet World Championship, scoring nearly 100 points more than India who finished in second-place.

The Far East nation pulverized the competition on the opening day of women’s wrestling action, winning four gold medals. They followed that up with two additional gold medals on the second day of competition, bringing their tournament total to an impressive six out of ten possible gold medals. 

Also of note in women’s wrestling, Macey KILTY (USA) and Emily SHILSON (USA) claimed gold medals for the United States, marking the first time in history that two American Cadets have won women’s freestyle world championships. 

Final team results
1. Japan - 210
2. India - 111
3. China - 110
4. Russia - 109
5. USA - 108
6. Ukraine - 99
7. Mongolia - 65
8. Belarus - 63
9. Azerbaijan - 36
10. Hungary – 30

News and Highlights 

4. Iakobishvili Steals Tbilisi Gold from Olympic Champ Ramonov 
Reigning world champion Zurabi IAKOBISHVILI (GEO) electrified the Georgian crowd, scoring the go-ahead takedown with 15-seconds left over Olympic champion Soslan RAMONOV (RUS) to steal the 70kg Tbilisi Grand Prix gold medal, 3-2. 

Trailing by one-point with under 15-seconds remaining, the Georgian shot a studder-step double, freezing for a split-second before re-attacking with a right-handed high-crotch, scoring the lead-changing takedown and ultimately his first Tbilisi Grand Prix gold medal.

RESULTS

5. India Set to Host Asian Junior Championships July 17-22 
The I.G. Sports Complex in New Delhi, India is set to host the 2018 Junior Asian Championships starting on July 17. 

This is the second junior continental championship (Junior African Championships) but is the first of three that will take place over the next month. 

The Junior European Championships begin July 30 and will be followed by the Junior Pan-American Championships which take place August 17-19.

FULL SCHEDULE

Weekly FIVE! In Social Media

1.  It's Summer! Time to go out and train!?
Лето вошло в полную силу! Пора тренироваться на свежем воздухе! ? @jolaman_sharshenbekov 
#wrestling#training#workout#motivation#coolvideo#кыргызстан#тренировка#лето#борцы#summer#summermood

2. Big Move from Day 6 of the Cadet World C'Ships
فن برتر روز ششم کشتی نوجوانان جهان
#Zagreb2018 !

3. KAZ ?? Defeats GEO ?? in a close match #uww #unitedworldwrestling #wrestling#grecoroman #cadets 

4. Day 6 of Cadet World Championships.................HERE. WE. GO. ? ? ?‍♂️ #uww #unitedworldwrestling #wrestling#grecoroman #cadets

5. Reigning world champion @petro700 explosive second-period start sparked him to a #TbilisiGP2018 gold medal, avenging his February loss to Ukraine's Aleksander KHOTSIANIVSK.

#WrestleBratislava

Sidakov vs Valiev set for European gold at 74kg

By Vinay Siwach

BRATISLAVA, Slovakia (April 8) -- Zaurbek SIDAKOV (UWW) will wrestle for the European gold medal for the first time in his career.

The four-time world champion, who last and only time wrestled at the European Championships in 2016, entered the 74kg final in Bratislava, Slovakia on Tuesday. He will take on Paris Olympic bronze medalist Chermen VALIEV (ALB) for the gold medal.

Sidakov defeated Murad KURAMAGOMEDOV (HUN), 2-0, in the 74kg semifinal after he took out four-time European champion Tajmuraz SALKAZANOV (SVK), 4-2, in a close quarterfinal.

Valiev defeated Aghanazar NOVRUZOV (AZE) 6-0 in the other semifinal as he countered in style while keeping his attacks. He scored from leg-attack when Novruzov was on the activity clock and countered an attempted attack from Novruzov for another takedown.

A stepout made it 6-0 as Valiev booked his spot in the final against Sidakov, who won their last meeting 3-2 three years ago.

Arsen HARUTYUNYAN (ARM)Arsen HARUTYUNYAN (ARM) battles Zelimkhan HARUTYUNYAN (ALB) in the 61kg semifinal. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kadir Caliskan)

At 61kg, Arsen HARUTYUNYAN (ARM) moved to the final after beating Zelimkhan ABAKAROV (ALB) 5-2 in a thrilling semifinal. Harutyunyan scored a takedown and lace to lead 4-0 in the first period and maintained the lead for a long time before Abakarov hit a arm-throw for two points. Harutyunyan kept the 4-2 lead despite Abakarov's desperate attempts to score.

The four-time European champion will face Zavur UGUEV (UWW) for the gold medal after the Tokyo Olympic champion rocked Dzmitry SHAMELA (UWW) 10-0 in a one-sided semifinal. Mixing his attacks, Uguev hit a double-leg for four to finish the bout.

Mahamedkhabib KADZIMAHAMEDAU (UWW)Mahamedkhabib KADZIMAHAMEDAU (UWW) hits a cradle throw on Artur NAIFONOV (UWW) in their 86kg semifinal during the European Championships. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kadir Caliskan)

The 86kg final will between Olympic champion Magomed RAMAZANOV (BUL) and Mahamedkhabib KADZIMAHAMEDAU (UWW), a rematch of the 2020 European final at 79kg which Kadzimahamedau won.

Kadzimahamedau had to pull out his iconic cradle for four to pull off a win over Artur NAIFONOV (GRE). He was trailing 3-2 when he hit the move and secured a 6-3 win.

Ramazanov entered the final after he had a field day in Bratislava. He secured a fall over over Sebastian JEZIERZANSKI (POL) in the semifinal. He was ahead 5-0 before a big double-leg attack for two points and figure-four turn made it 9-0. He held Jezierzanski on the back and secured the fall.

Dauren KURUGLIEV (GRE) returned to the European final, although in a new weight class. The Paris Olympic bronze medalist at 86kg was wrestling at 92kg and survived a scare against former European champion Feyzullah AKTURK (TUR), winning 3-3 on criteria.

Akturk fell behind 2-1 and scored a stepout with 10 seconds left on the clock to make it 2-2 but Kurugliev led on criteria for his takedown in the first period. Turkiye challenged the call asking for a takedown but lost the challenge to make 3-2 for Kurugliev.

Akturk scored another stepout but that was all he could do in the final 10 seconds and Kurugliev won 3-3.

He will take on Osman NURMAGOMEDOV (AZE) for the gold medal after the Azerbaijan wrestler defeated world silver medalist Mirani MAISURADZE (GEO) 5-2 in the other semifinal.

At 125kg, Paris Olympic bronze medalist Giorgi MESHVILDISHVILI (AZE) will clash with Solomon MANASHVILI (GEO) for the gold medal after the two had to dug deep in the semifinals.

Meshvildishvili hung on for a 8-5 win over Dzianis KHRAMIANKOU (UWW) after the latter made it 6-5.

Manashvili scored a four-pointer to beat Kamil KOSCIOLEK (POL), 8-3 and enter the gold medal bout.

RESULTS

61kg
GOLD: Arsen HARUTYUNYAN (ARM) vs. Zavur UGUEV (UWW)

SF 1: Arsen HARUTYUNYAN (ARM) df. Zelimkhan ABAKAROV (ALB), 5-2
SF 2: Zavur UGUEV (UWW) df. Dzmitry SHAMELA (UWW), 10-0

74kg
GOLD: Chermen VALIEV (ALB) vs. Zaurbek SIDAKOV (UWW)

SF 1: Chermen VALIEV (ALB) df. Aghanazar NOVRUZOV (AZE), 6-0
SF 2: Zaurbek SIDAKOV (UWW) df. Murad KURAMAGOMEDOV (HUN), 2-0

86kg
GOLD: Magomed RAMAZANOV (BUL) vs. Mahamedkhabib KADZIMAHAMEDAU (UWW)

SF 1: Magomed RAMAZANOV (BUL) df. Sebastian JEZIERZANSKI (POL), via fall (9-0)
SF 2: Mahamedkhabib KADZIMAHAMEDAU (UWW) df. Artur NAIFONOV (UWW), 6-3

92kg
GOLD: Osman NURMAGOMEDOV (AZE) vs. Dauren KURUGLIEV (GRE)

SF 1: Osman NURMAGOMEDOV (AZE) df. Miriani MAISURADZE (GEO), 5-2
SF 2: Dauren KURUGLIEV (GRE) df. Feyzullah AKTURK (TUR), 3-3

125kg
GOLD: Giorgi MESHVILDISHVILI (AZE) vs. Solomon MANASHVILI (GEO)

SF 1: Giorgi MESHVILDISHVILI (AZE) df. Dzianis KHRAMIANKOU (UWW), 8-5
SF 2: Solomon MANASHVILI (GEO) df. Kamil KOSCIOLEK (POL), 8-3