#WrestleBelgrade

#WrestleBelgrade GR Preview: RWF, Iran Bring Strong Teams for U23 Worlds

Friday, October 22, 2021 - 14:38 By Vinay Siwach

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BELGRADE, Serbia (October 22) -- Amin MIRZAZADEH (IRI) was preparing for the Senior World Championships last month when he contracted the COVID-19 virus and had to withdraw from Iran's Greco-Roman team.

A month after the senior team won second place in the team title race in Oslo, Iran, led by Tokyo Olympian Mirzazadeh, will look to replicate and even improve that position at the U23 World Championships which begin November 1, 2021 in Belgrade, Serbia.

Mirzazadeh finished fifth at the Tokyo Olympics after losing to Riza KAYAALP (TUR) in the bronze medal bout. Still, the former senior Asian champion at 130kg would like to win his second world title after winning the junior worlds 2019. In his only outing at the U23 level, he finished fifth at the 2017 World Championships.

However, there is no certainty for Mirzazadeh as the Russian Wrestling Federation is bringing a loaded roster to Belgrade. First, he could face Mikhail LAPTEV (RWF) who won the U23 European title in May. Laptev has been on the heels of Sergei SEMENOV (RWF) in the Greco-Roman team.

Another name that Mirzazadeh has to look out for is David OVASAPYAN (ARM). The Iranian wrestled him for the 2018 junior world gold and won that bout. But the Armenian made it to the final of the U23 Euros earlier this year.

A rematch of that final from May is well on the cards as Ovasapyan wrestled Laptev but lost 5-1. The two revenge matches will headline the weight class which goes into action on the first day of the competition along with 55kg, 63kg, 77kg and 87kg.

Both 77kg and 87kg can also see the repeat of the 2021 U23 European Championships finals at the respective weight classes. The 77kg finals opponents Sergei STEPANOV (RWF) and Per OLOFSSON (SWE) are entered into the Belgrade bracket. Stepanov defeated Olofsson 5-2 in the final. Bronze medalist from the same event Samvel GRIGORYAN (ARM) will also look to avenge his 8-3 semifinal loss to Stepanov.

But Tamas LEVAI (HUN), a certain dark horse of the weight class, will challenge everyone with his spectacular defense, along with junior world bronze medalist and Moldova's hope Alexandrin GUTU (MDA). The Moldovan lost to Olofsson 9-0 at the U23 Euros and did not compete further due to an injury.

Three-time age-group world medalist Sajan BHANWALA (IND), who finished fifth at U23 Worlds in 2019, will also look to find a place on the podium this year. However, former junior world champion Amin KAVIYANINEJAD (IRI) will not be a pushover as he won a bronze medal at the 2021 senior Asian Championships in Almaty.

MaskevichKiryl MASKEVICH (BLR) won a silver medal at the Senior World Championships in Oslo. (Photo: UWW / Tony Rotundo)

At 87kg, apart from U23 Euro champion and former junior world champion Aleksandr KOMAROV (RWF) and silver medalist Temuri TCHKUASELIDZE (GEO), Kiryl MASKEVICH (BLR) will be the biggest name to have entered the field. In Oslo, Maskevich reached the final but lost to Zurabi DATUNASHVILI (SRB) to end up with a silver. He will be looking to win the world title to add to his Individual World Cup gold that he won in Belgrade in December 2020.

Gevorg TADEVOSYAN (ARM) won a bronze at the U23 Euros after suffering a defeat at the hands of Tchkuaselidze and would like to turn around the result if the two meet again in Belgrade. 2020 senior Asian champion Sunil KUMAR (IND) would also like to win his first Worlds medal.

Leri ABULADZELeri ABULAZDE (GEO) fell short in the final of the 63kg at the Oslo World Championships. (Photo: UWW / Martin Gabor)

The first day can also see a huge 63kg clash between 2019 World bronze medalist Alireza NEJATI (IRI) at 60kg and 2021 World silver medalist Leri ABULADZE (GEO). Nejati was at the Tokyo Olympics as well but finished 10th out of 16 competitors. Abuladze escaped from difficult positions in Oslo and ended up reaching the final where he lost 4-5 to Meysam DALKHANI (IRI).

The two will also face a challenge from U23 Euro champion Hrachya POGHOSYAN (ARM) who had defeated Abuladze 1-1 in the semifinal of that tournament. He also entered at the senior World Championships but lost to Stig BERGE (NOR) in the opening round.

The 55kg weight class on the first day will feature '21 junior world bronze medalist Akyikat KULZHIGIT UULU (KGZ) and 2017 junior world champion Poya DAD MARZ (IRI). Mavlud RIZMANOV (RWF), the 2021 U23 Euro bronze medalist will also be a wrestler to keep an eye on.

On the second day of action in Belgrade, wrestlers from the 60kg, 67kg, 72kg, 82kg and 97kg weight classes will be on the mat.

KutuzovSergei KUTUZOV (RWF) won a silver medal at the World Championships in Oslo. (Photo: UWW / Martin Gabor)

The 72kg weight class promises to be a minefield as senior World silver medalist Sergei KUTUZOV (RWF) has entered along with U23 European champion at 67kg Krisztian VANCZA (HUN) who was also in Oslo. Kutuzov was dominant in his bouts in Oslo and suffered a heartbreaking loss in the final to Malkhos AMOYAN (ARM), the same wrestler who had defeated him in the semifinal of the U23 Europeans in Skopje.

Andrii KULYK (UKR) won a silver medal in Skopje and he will also be in Belgrade, which gives him a chance to his first world title. He defeated Idris IBAEV (GER) in the early rounds. The German also entered Belgrade.

At 60kg, Tokyo Olympian Kerem KAMAL (TUR) will be eyeing his first world title at the U23 level after missing it the last time. The Turkish wrestler, who has won a U23 European Championships, a junior world title and several others, has been off-color recently and this tournament can give him the opportunity to bounce back to top form. He did not compete at the U23 Euros this year, and in his absence, it was Anvar ALLAKHIAROV (RWF) who won the title in Skopje. No one was able to score on the young wrestler who has also won the junior world title in 2019. A clash between the exciting Kamal and Allakhiarov will be a treat for the fans at the Belexpocentar.

Kamal's brother Kadir will also be making the trip to Belgrade and he will compete in the 67kg weight class. He lost a close final against Vancza 2-2 in U23 Euros but this could be his chance to win the first gold at a World Championships. Standing in his path are Oleksii MASYK (UKR) who met him in the semifinal of the U23 Euros, a meeting which Kamal won.

Hasrat JafarovHasrat JAFAROV (AZE) is a junior world champion for Azerbaijan. (Photo: UWW / Kadir Caliskan)

But a bigger challenge would be to go past junior world champion Hasrat JAFAROV (AZE) and silver medalist Sahak HOVHANNISYAN (ARM). The two will be the biggest threat to the gold. In Ufa finals, Jafarov was dominant and beat Havhannisyan 7-0 to claim the gold.

This year, Jafarov has won a bronze at the U23 Euros, junior European and Worlds titles, and was at the Senior World Championships in Oslo. He went 3-2 and finished fifth after losing to Olympic and World champion Mohammadreza GERAEI (IRI) and to Ramaz ZOIDZE (GEO) in the bronze medal bout.

All medalists from the 82kg weight class from U23 Euros minus Tamas LEVAI (HUN) are entered for the U23 Worlds and Shamil OZHAEV (RWF), who won gold in Skopje, will like to add the world title to his continental one. The only point Ozhaev surrendered in that event was a passivity point in the final and no other wrestler was able to score on him. Awaiting a clash with the Russian Wrestling Federation wrestler would be Yauheni YUROU (BLR) as he had lost to him 0-6 in that tournament.

The other bronze medalist Aivengo RIKADZE (GEO) is also entered while Iran decided to send Mohammad NAGHOUSI (IRI), who won a bronze medal at the Junior World Championships in Ufa.

Artur SargsianArtur SARGSIAN (RWF) will be looking to win his first world title. (Photo: UWW / Tony Rotundo)

Another big name and the favorite to win the 97kg title Artur SARGSIAN (RWF) will close out the day. He won a bronze medal at his first senior World Championships in Oslo. The big-throwing wrestler won the U23 Euros as well in May and he may face his opponent from that final Giorgi KATSANASHVILI (GEO). Sargsian did not take much time in that match to finish Katsanashvili.

But one wrestler who Sargsian will be eyeing is Arvi SAVOLAINEN (FIN). The former junior world champion has a win over the RWF wrestler. Back in 2018, Savolainen won the junior gold in Slovakia after beating Sargsian in the pre-quarterfinals 7-0. The two are likely to clash in the 97kg weight class.

The tournament will certainly miss some of the quality Greco-Roman wrestlers from Korea, Japan and China. As travel is still complicated due to the pandemic, the three Asian countries, along with many others around the world, have decided to skip the tour, the final World Championships of 2021.

#wrestlebishkek

Kusaka stuns Makhmudov, Bishkek crowd for Asian gold at Greco 77kg

Monday, April 15, 2024 - 16:50 By Ken Marantz

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BISHKEK, Kyrgyzstan (April 15) -- Nao KUSAKA (JPN) accomplished what he came to do, and silenced the Kyrgyzstan crowd by denying them what they most wanted to see. As a bonus, he also happened to spoil his opponent's 25th birthday.

Kusaka stunned reigning world and Asian champion Akzhol MAKHMUDOV (KGZ) 4-2 in the Greco 77kg final at the Asian Championships on Monday in Bishkek, gaining revenge for a close loss to the Kyrgyz superstar in the semifinals at last year's World Championships.

"From the time I lost at the World Championships, I've been aiming at getting revenge," Kusaka said. "To win on the opponent's home soil is a major achievement in my wrestling life."

All five weight classes had the defending champion in action, but only the Iranian pair of Naser ALIZADEH (IRI) at 87kg and world champion Amin MIRZAZADEH (IRI) at 130kg managed to hold onto their titles. For Alizadeh, it was a fourth straight gold, while Mirzazadeh earned the third of his career.

Yu Chol RO (PRK) knocked off defending champion Poya DAD MARZ (IRI) in the 55kg final to give the DPR Korea its second gold in its return to the continental championships after a five-year absence, while unheralded Yerzhet ZHARLYKASSYN (KAZ) was a surprising champion at 63kg.

Nao KUSAKA (JPN)Nao KUSAKA (JPN) celebrates after beating Akzhol MAKHMUDOV (KGZ) in Bishkek. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Amirreza Aliasgari)

For 2022 world U23 bronze medalist Kusaka, the memory he will take home of the crowd at Bishkek Arena falling silent after witnessing the vanquishing of two-time defending champion Makhmudov will be as valuable as the gold medal.

"It felt great," the 23-year-old said of turning the roars to a hush. "It's the best. As the 'heel', I have etched my name here. It's really a great feeling. It makes me glad I took up wrestling."

Kusaka's win came without actually scoring a technical point. He gained a passivity point and, while he was trying for a turn, Makhmudov was assessed a 2-point penalty for leg blocking after a challenge to put the Japanese up 3-0.

It seemed inevitable that Makhmudov would get his chance on top and when he did, his throw at the edge failed to turn Kusaka and he received only one point for a stepout. A challenge by the Kyrgyz side was denied, giving Kusaka a 4-2 lead that he made stick until the end.

"He got me into the air, but sometimes you get lucky and it's limited to only one point," Kusaka said. "My opponent is probably thinking, I'm glad it was here [and not the Olympics]. But to me, this is a big win."

The 7-5 loss he was dealt by Makhmudov last September in Belgrade has been both a source of irritation and inspiration. Anticipating the rematch, he has studied the video of the match religiously and intensified his training, including grueling sessions with sumo wrestlers to work on putting pressure on his opponents.

After the World Championships, Kusaka spent a month on a self-funded training trip to Germany and Hungary with the aim of raising his level and gaining international experience ahead of the Paris Olympics. While there, he participated in Bundesliga matches and practiced with stars Tamas LORINCZ (HUN) and Zoltan LEVAI (HUN).

Even in Japan, Kusaka said he has to contend with the aura that emanates from Makhmudov, who also has an Olympic silver medal to his credit. Incidentally, Lorincz, who won the 77kg gold at the Tokyo Olympics after beating Makhmudov in the final, awarded the medals to the 77kg medalists in Bishkek.

"I've realized lately that in this internet world, Makhmudov has hundreds of thousands of followers on Instagram, while only a few Japanese have maybe tens of thousands," Kusaka said.

"He has videos of his big throws, and people around me say, 'Makhmudov is amazing! How can you beat a monster like that?' But I'm like, 'It's not really like that.'

"Anyway, if you think truly in your heart you can beat someone, it is not impossible. I think this win provides a good example for the wrestling community. I want to convey that if you stick to your beliefs, if you stick to your style, you can definitely be a world-beater. I want to prove that."

This year, he finished third at the Zagreb Open, where he lost to Levai in the fourth round. Before Paris, Kusaka intends to enter the Budapest Ranking Series in June in order to help his chances of being seeded at the Olympics.

Makhmudov had accepted the reality of the defeat and he is ready to move on.

"What happened, happened," he said. "I know that no matter how much I try, I won’t be able to change anything. I want to train harder in the future and prove that I’ve been coming back all the time and will come back again. There is a little time left before the Olympic Games, but I’ll try my best to compete successfully there."

Amin MIRZAZADEH (IRI)Amin MIRZAZADEH (IRI) won his third career Asian title. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Amirreza Aliasgari)

In other action, Mirzazadeh showed once again how unstoppable he is from par terre, as he rolled Minseok KIM (KOR) two times for all the points he needed in a 5-0 victory in the 130kg final.

"I really practiced hard for this and tried a lot to be able to create a significant difference with the other competitors and it makes me happy," Mirzazadeh said.

It was the first time in three matches that the Iranian didn't end it with enough gut wrenches from par terre, but it still got the job done. Mirzazadeh had beaten Kim previously in the first round of the Tokyo Olympics, where he ended up taking a disappointing fifth by losing to the legendary Riza KAYAALP (TUR) in the bronze-medal match.

Mirzazadeh lost to Kayaalp again in the final of the 2022 worlds, but gained his revenge and his first world title in the gold-medal match last September in Belgrade. That makes him a leading candidate to end the hopes of Mijain LOPEZ (CUB) for an unprecedented fifth Olympic gold in Paris.

"I think it was a really great start for further preparation for the Olympics," Mirzazadeh said. "From tomorrow, when the competition ends, I have to start training and trying to make my people happy with the title in the Olympics."

At 87kg, Alizadeh maintained his dominance of Nursultan TURSYNOV (KAZ), beating him at the Asian Championships for the fourth year in a row and in a second consecutive final.

Alizadeh was never really challenged and clinched a 5-0 victory with a 2-point throw from par terre at the edge in the second period.

Alizadeh had beaten Tursynov in the first round in both 2021 and 2022 before defeating him 8-0 in last year's final in Astana. The 33-year-old Tursynov does have an Asian gold medal, won back in 2014.

Yu Chol RO (PRK)Yu Chol RO (PRK) defeated defending 55kg champion Poya DAD MARZ (IRI) in the final. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Amirreza Aliasgari)

At 55kg, the DPR Korea's Ro, whose last appearance on the international wrestling scene ended with an eighth-place finish at the 2019 Asian Championships in Xi'an, made a big leap with a 9-0 victory to dethrone Iran's Dad Marz.

"Today is the biggest holiday in Korea -- 'The Day of the Sun' -- on this day, I wanted to gift my gold medal to my country and I would like to say thank you to my parents and friends," Ro said. "I would like to become the world champion."

Ro, put into par terre in the first period, took full advantage by reeling off a pair of rolls before Dad Marz appeared to squirm his way out of a third. But the Iranian was assessed a 2-point penalty for leg blocking to make it 7-0.

That caution also put Dad Marz back on the bottom, and Ro responded by muscling him over to end the match at 2:08 for his fourth technical fall in four matches.

Yerzhet ZHARLYKASSYN (KAZ)Yerzhet ZHARLYKASSYN (KAZ) hits a four-point throw against Ayata SUZUKI (JPN) in the 63kg final during the Asian Championships. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kostadin Andonov)

In the 63kg final, Kazakhstan's Zharlykassyn came out of nowhere to snatch the gold with a nail-biting 6-6 victory on criteria over two-time 60kg bronze medalist Ayata SUZUKI (JPN).

Suzuki, the Asian Games silver medalist, started strong with an arm throw for 2 and a gut wrench. But his aggressiveness worked against him when Zharlykassyn countered an arm throw for a takedown, which he followed with a nifty 4-point throw that would end up being the criteria decider.

In the second period, Suzuki slipped out of a whizzer for a takedown to tie it up at 6-6, but all of his efforts to score the go-ahead point were thwarted.

"I was confident of not giving up points from standing," Suzuki said. "To give up points on my attack, and then the 4-pointer, I need to think more about the timing of my attack and the attack itself."

Prior to Monday, Zharlykassyn's only notable accomplishment was a bronze medal at the 2022 Asian U23 Championships -- won in a field with just four entries. He fell in the first round at the World U23 Championships in both 2022 and 2023.

Sajjad ALBIDHAN (IRQ)Sajjad ALBIDHAN (IRQ) won the bronze medal at 55kg. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kostadin Andonov)

Albidhan takes bronze for Iraq's first medal since 2021

In the bronze-medal matches, Sajjad ALBIDHAN (IRQ) gave Iraq its first Asian medal in three years with an impressive victory by fall over Taemin KIM (KOR) at 55kg.

Albihan got two rolls off par terre in the first period, then turned Kim over after a takedown in the second before applying the finishing touch.

Iraq's last medal at the Asian Championships came in 2021 when Mustafa AL OBAIDI (IRQ) won a bronze medal in Freestyle 86kg. The last Greco-Roman medal came in 2020, won by Sajjad's elder brother Hussein, at 77kg in New Delhi.

Ulan MURATBEK UULU (KGZ), the 2023 Asian U23 champion, picked up his first senior medal when he rode a five-point first period to a 5-2 victory over Jasurbek ORTIKBOEV (UZB) for the other bronze at 55kg.

The highlight of the match may have been when Ortikboev actually scored with a "flying squirrel" -- the desperation move losing Greco wrestlers use at the end of a match in which they leap over their opponent on the unlikely chance they can grab on and roll them over.

At 63kg, Iman MOHAMMADI (IRI), who was dethroned as champion in the semifinals by Suzuki, assured he won't be going home empty-handed when he cruised to a 10-0 victory over Haodong TAN (CHN).

Mohammadi made the rare decision of opting to remain standing after receiving a passivity point in the first period, and it paid off with a stepout, after which he added a takedown. He repeated the process in the second period before ending the match in 4:38 with an arm-trap roll.

The other 63kg bronze went to Chan KIM (PRK), who was leading Dokyung JUNG (KOR) 9-2 when his opponent was forced to default in the second period after reaggravating a rib injury he had suffered earlier in the day.

In a battle of veterans at 87kg, Asian Games bronze medalist Masato SUMI (JPN) scored two gut wrenches from par terre en route to a 7-3 victory over Atabek AZISBEKOV (KGZ), giving the Japanese his first Asian medal since winning a silver in 2018. Azisbekov was denied a fourth career Asian medal.

Rahimjon UZOKOV (UZB) earned his first major medal with a 6-0 victory over Seunghwan LEE (KOR) for the other 87kg bronze. Ozokov's first points came from a head butt penalty at the beginning of the match, after which he scored a gut wrench from par terre for a 5-0 lead.

At 130kg, 2022 Asian U23 champion Erlan MANATBEKOV (KGZ) gained a passivity point and stepout, with a fleeing point tacked on, in the first period, and that was enough to vanquish Islomjon RAKHMATOV (UZB) 3-0. Rakhmatov ran out of gas in the second period and never pressed enough to get a chance at par terre.

Lingzhe MENG (CHN), last year's losing finalist at 130kg, completely overpowered Ganzolboo BUYANTOGTOKH (MGL), forcing him out at will for six stepouts which, combined with fleeing points tagged onto the final two, resulted in an 8-0 victory in 1:49.

At 77kg, Ibragim MAGOMADOV (KAZ), last year's 72kg champion, got a gut wrench from par terre and held on for a 4-3 victory over Amir ABDI (IRI). For what it's worth, it completes the full set of Asian medals for Magomadov, who was a silver medalist in 2020.

Doniyorkhon NAKIBOV (UZB) picked up the other 77kg bronze, wriggling out of the bottom of par terre to score a takedown and three consecutive rolls in the first period for an 8-3 victory over Yeonghun NOH (KOR).

 

df

Day 5 Results

Greco-Roman

55kg (12 entries)
GOLD: Yu Chol RO (PRK) df. Poya DAD MARZ (IRI) by TF, 9-0, 2:08

BRONZE: Ulan MURATBEK UULU (KGZ) df. Jasurbek ORTIKBOEV (UZB), 5-2
BRONZE: Sajjad ALBIDHAN (IRQ) df. Taemin KIM (KOR) by Fall, 3:42 (9-0)

63kg (12 entries)
GOLD: Yerzhet ZHARLYKASSYN (KAZ) df. Ayata SUZUKI (JPN), 6-6

BRONZE: Iman MOHAMMADI (IRI) df. Haodong TAN (CHN) by TF, 10-0, 4:38
BRONZE: Chan KIM (PRK) df. Dokyung JUNG (KOR) by Inj. Def., 3:24 (9-2)

77kg (13 entries)
GOLD: Nao KUSAKA (JPN) df. Akzhol MAKHMUDOV (KGZ), 4-2

BRONZE: Ibragim MAGOMADOV (KAZ) df. Amir ABDI (IRI), 4-3
BRONZE: Doniyorkhon NAKIBOV (UZB) df. Yeonghun NOH (KOR), 8-3

87kg (11 entries)
GOLD: Naser ALIZADEH (IRI) df. Nursultan TURSYNOV (KAZ), 5-0

BRONZE: Rahimjon UZOKOV (UZB) df. Seunghwan LEE (KOR), 6-0
BRONZE: Masato SUMI (JPN) df. Atabek AZISBEKOV (KGZ), 7-3

130kg (12 entries)
GOLD: Amin MIRZAZADEH (IRI) df. Minseok KIM (KOR) by 5-0

BRONZE: Erlan MANATBEKOV (KGZ) df. Islomjon RAKHMATOV (UZB), 3-0
BRONZE: Lingzhe MENG (CHN) df. Ganzolboo BUYANTOGTOKH (MGL) by TF, 8-0, 1:49