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

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

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.

Kiryl 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 ABULADZE Leri 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.

Kutuzov Sergei 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 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 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.

#WrestleBelgrade

World C'ships: Tynybekova fends off latest Japanese challenge; Fujinami regains world crown

Thursday, September 21, 2023 - 23:54 By Ken Marantz

BELGRADE, Serbia (September 21) -- Wily Aisuluu TYNYBEKOVA (KGZ) found a way to beat the latest hot-shot wrestler that Japan threw at her and end a recent series of losses at the hands of the premier powerhouse in women's wrestling.

Tynybekova claimed her third world title and a ticket to her fourth Olympics by masterfully beating back the attack of Sakura MOTOKI (JPN) for a 4-1 victory in the 62kg final as women's wrestling at the World Championships wrapped up on Thursday night.

"The Japanese wrestlers are very strong," Tynybekova said. "We were preparing specifically for them. The coaches knew who I would have to wrestle at this World Championships, so they prepared a strategy for me.

"I just had to go up on the mat and follow all the instructions they had given me. I think I have met their expectations."

Superteen Akari FUJINAMI (JPN) regained the world title at 53kg to give Japan its sixth women's gold of the tournament, while Buse TOSUN (TUR) became the second Turkish women's champion in history with a dramatic victory at 68kg.

In the lone remaining non-Olympic weight, teen titan Amit ELOR (USA) successfully defended her 72kg title, giving the U.S. its lone gold in the women's competition.

The tournament is also serving as the first qualifying tournament for the 2024 Paris Olympics, with five berths available in each of the Olympic weight classes. Japan was the lone country to secure spots in all six divisions of women's wrestling.

Not surprisingly, with six champions Japan also captured its ninth straight team title, compiling 195 points to finish well ahead of the second-place United States with 135. Mongolia, with three silver medalists, finished third with 80.

Tynybekova, who became a national hero in Kyrgyzstan when she became its first-ever women's world champion and Olympic medalist, has had her share of victories and defeats against Japanese opponents.

In recent years, she lost to Yukako KAWAI (JPN) in the final of the Tokyo Olympics, and fell to Nonoka OZAKI (JPN) at last year's World Championships in Belgrade (she would avenge the latter loss at this year's Asian Championships).

"Some people were texting me that I would never be able to become the world champion again, Asian champion, world champion," Tynybekova said. "I just kept silent. I needed just a little time to prove that we are the best."

Facing her this time on the other side of the mat was Motoki, a bronze medalist at 59kg last year who had moved up to the Olympic weight and beat both Kawai and Ozaki to make the team to Belgrade.

Motoki was the aggressor from the get-go, launching her low single attacks. But each time, Tynybekova calmly sat back on Motoki's shoulder and forced a stalemate. It seemed little concern to Tynybekova when she gave up an activity point for the only point of the first period.

In the second period, Tynybekova suddenly and without warning took her first shot, and hit the target, scoring a takedown with a low single to take the lead.

Motoki increased the pressure, but that only played into Tynybekova's hands, as she scored 2 off a counter lift to pad the lead and put Motoki into a bigger hole. Tynybekova never let her get out of it.

"In order to win this gold, I had to work hard for two years, I had to have patience, overcome all the obstacles," Tynybekova said. "Together with the team, coaches, federation, all together we won this gold."

Amid the sting of the defeat, Motoki can be content with having achieved her objective of securing a ticket to the Paris Olympics. The Japan federation has ruled that any wrestler who wins a medal at the World Championships in an Olympic weight would automatically fill the spot without any further playoffs.

For Motoki, that holds even more significance. Her father, Yasutoshi, wrestled at the 2000 Sydney Olympics in Greco-Roman, and it has been her dream since childhood to join him as an Olympian.

Still, the stinging defeat offered a dose of reality, which she will surely use to motivate her in the years ahead.

"I came into the tournament confident that my wrestling could be competitive on the world level," a sobbing Motoki said. "But I'm still a long way away."

Making it to Paris was also the prime motivation for the 19-year-old Fujinami, who regained the 53kg title that she won in 2021 but was unable to defend when a foot injury kept her out of last year's World Championships.

"Last year an injury kept me from competing and it is a bitter memory," Fujinami said. "I thought, 'Next year, I will definitely win the title at the World Championships and later win the gold at the Paris Olympics.' I achieved one of them, the world title, so I'm really happy."

Facing two-time former champion Vanesa KALADZINSKAYA (AIN) in the final, Fujinami was at her devastating best, scoring all of her points on takedowns off her lethal single-leg attack en route to a 10-0 technical fall in 4:43.

The victory, combined with her four wins in the preliminary round Wednesday, extended her current winning streak to 127 matches. She has not lost since the national junior high school championships in June 2017.

Although she secured her ticket to Paris when she won her semifinal on Wednesday, Fujinami kept her focus on the championship match.

"I clinched the spot in Paris, but I've been working the past year to become the world champion," she said. "I was happy yesterday, and I felt relieved. But I still had today to go, so I couldn't be too happy."

Like Tynybekova, Kaladzinskaya has an interesting history in relation to Japanese wrestlers. Both of the Tokyo Olympic bronze medalist's world titles came at the expense of Japanese who ironically would go on to win Olympic titles.

The 30-year-old defeated Eri TOSAKA (JPN) in the 48kg final in 2012 and scored a last-second victory over Mayu MUKAIDA (JPN) at 53kg in 2017.

"I got advice from various people and I was able to do my wrestling," Fujinami said of facing Kaladzinskaya. "She's powerful, not a type you find in Japan."

While Fujinami again stamped herself as one of the most dominant wrestlers on the planet, she also showed a hint of vulnerability in her quarterfinal match on Wednesday against Lucia YEPEZ (ECU). But it only makes her more determined to improve.

Yepez opened the match by taking a 5-0 lead and finished with seven points overall, the most-ever scored on Fujinami by a non-Japanese opponent. Fujinami, who ended up winning the match by fall, regarded having to face adversity as a good experience.

"I think I'm still weak, but I want to be the one who stands out, so I have to get stronger and train harder," she said.

"Honestly speaking for this tournament I kept telling myself, 'Just have fun, just have fun.' In reality, it's not that it wasn't enjoyable, but I wasn't able to do much that was fun. I felt the pressure and I couldn't get my legs to move. It's the first time I experienced that, but I feel it's a sign I have also grown."

After her victory, Fujinami celebrated on the mat with her coach, who also happens to be her father Toshikazu and has been coaching her since she started wrestling as a toddler. After playfully tackling him, the two set out together on a victory lap around the mat carrying the Japanese flag.

At 68kg, Tosun made it to the top of the medal podium after twice winning bronze medals at 72kg with a spectacular victory by fall over Delgermaa ENKHSAIKHAN (MGL) that left the Turk as stunned as her opponent.

Tosun took a 1-0 lead in the first period after scoring a stepout while on the activity clock. Mongolians are well known for their big throws, and in the opening moments of the second period, Enkhsaikhan hit a beauty for a 4-point move.

The only problem was that Tosun never stopped the momentum and rolled through, putting Enkhsaikhan onto her back before clamping down for the fall in 3:15.

With the triumph, Tosun joined Yasmin ADAR (TUR) as the lone woman to win world titles for Turkiye. Adar won 75/76kg golds in 2017 and 2022. She did not return this year to Belgrade to defend her title.

In the non-Olympic weight on the program, Elor kept a firm grip on the 72kg title by holding off the attacks of Davaanasan ENKH AMAR (MGL), using her tremendous strength to power to an 8-2 victory.

"That was my game plan, I wanted to keep pressure on, I wanted to have close contact, and it looks like that's what she wanted also," Elor said. "So it was interesting, I think it's a really good match for me to look back on and learn from.

"I have a lot to work on, a lot to get better and improve at. But at the end of the day, I'm a world champion, which is amazing. I'm so happy."

Elor took a 3-0 lead in the first period with two stepouts sandwiched around an activity point. In the second period, the American scored a snap-down takedown before Enkh Amar finally broke through the armor and scored a takedown of her own, only to see Elor quickly gain a reversal. Elor then added her final points when she stopped a late throw attempt.

"I'm very confident with my hips," Elor said. "I love to rethrow, I like to score off of someone else's throw. But I need to work on my positioning. I shouldn't get in those positions. But it was a great match and I really enjoyed the fight."

The question now for the two-time world champion is what her plans are regarding the Paris Olympics.

"I don't know for sure yet, but most likely I'll go down [to 68kg]," she said. "We'll see because ever since a young age, I've never cut weight. And so if I do go down, it has to be in a healthy way. It has to be what feels best for me and my body."

Yepez gives Ecuador first medal

Another country joined the list of medal winners when Yepez gave Ecuador its first-ever world medal in any style by sweeping to a 10-3 victory over Maria PREVOLARAKI (GRE) in a bronze-medal match at 53kg.

In avenging a 14-4 loss to Prevolaraki in the bronze-medal match last year in the same venue, the lightning-quick Yepez blasted out to a 6-0 lead with three takedowns, then held off a late push to secure the historic bronze.

Another up-and-coming wrestler, world U20 champion ANTIM (UWW), took home the other 53kg bronze by beating Jonna MALMGREN (SWE) in arguably the most entertaining match of the night session, a freewheeling 16-6 technical fall completed as time expired.

The 19-year-old Antim, who had a 4-point barrel roll in the first period to lead 6-6 on criteria, went on a 10-point scoring spree in the second to put the match away and win a medal in her senior world debut.

The most dramatic match came at 68kg, where Irina RINGACI (MDA) squandered a 6-1 lead against 2022 silver medalist Ami ISHII (JPN) and fell behind with 45 seconds left, only to score the winning 2 with a counter-lift with 10 seconds for her second straight bronze.

Ishii, needing to win the match to clinch an Olympic berth for herself, gave up a 4-point counterthrow in the first period that would factor into criteria situations, so she worked to take the outright lead. She managed to do it with three takedowns in the second period.

But as she tried to hold off a late throw from Ringaci, the Moldovan reached over the top and lifted her up and over for 2 and a miracle finish. It was Ringaci's third world medal, having also won the gold at 65kg in 2021.

Koumba LARROQUE (FRA) gave the Olympic host country its first women's quota when she overwhelmed Emma BRUNTIL (USA) by a 10-0 technical fall for the other 68kg bronze and her fourth career world medal.

Larroque, a bronze medalist last year at 65kg, struck early with a 4-point arm throw in the first period, then reeled off three takedowns in the second to end the match in 5:13.

Grace BULLEN (NOR) earned a rare Olympic spot for Norway, scoring a takedown in the first period and a stepout in the second for a 3-0 victory over Bilyana DUDOVA (BUL) at 62kg.

It was Bullen's second world medal, adding to the 59kg silver she won last year. Dudova was the gold medalist a year ago at 59kg.

The other 62kg bronze went to Tokyo Olympic bronze medalist Iryna KOLIADENKO (UKR) with a 10-0 technical fall of Luisa NIEMESCH (GER), a repeat of her quarterfinal victory en route to the gold at the European Championships -- right down to the score.

Koliadenko got her first four points one at a time, with three stepouts and an activity point. Then she got a takedown and reeled off two gut wrenches to end the match at 4:29.

Miwa MORIKAWA (JPN), the 2022 world 65kg champion who was wrestling at 72kg for the first time in her life after failing to make Japan's team at 68kg, will return with a bronze medal after beating Kendra DACHER (FRA) 4-2.

Morikawa went ahead with an activity point and stepout in the first period, then added a stepout with a fleeing point to go up 4-0. Dacher managed a consolation takedown with five seconds left.

For what it's worth, Morikawa completed the collection of world medals, having also won a silver in 2021 at 65kg. But what will be of more concern for her was that Ishii's loss reopened the door for her to the Paris Olympics.

Three-time Asian champion Zhamila BAKBERGENOVA (KAZ), the world silver medalist the past two years, will take home the other 72kg bronze after notching a 4-1 win over Natalia STRZALKA (POL).

Bakbergenova seemed to get the spark she needed after giving up an activity point to fall behind 1-1 on criteria, immediately scoring a stepout and then adding a takedown.

Ishii rebounds

Ishii managed to come back from her heartbreaking defeat and secure the only quota in Paris that Japan had not yet clinched -- although to make it hers, she's going to have to go through the same domestic fight that she went through to get to Belgrade.

Ishii, who could barely move off the mat after her exhausting loss to Ringaci, scored a takedown on a low single in the first period and made that stand in a 2-0 victory over Bruntil in the fifth-place playoff at 68kg.

Sweden and Germany gained the other Olympic spots at stake, with Malmgren beating Prevolaraki by fall at 53kg and Niemesch gaining a second-period takedown to edge Dudova 3-2 at 62kg.

Day 6 Results

Women's Wrestling

53kg (31 entries)
GOLD: Akari FUJINAMI (JPN) df. Vanesa KALADZINSKAYA (AIN) by TF, 10-0, 4:43

BRONZE: Luisa YEPEZ (ECU) df. Maria PREVOLARAKI (GRE), 10-3
BRONZE: ANTIM (UWW) df. Jonna MALMGREN (SWE) by TF, 16-6, 6:00

5th-Place Playoff: Jonna MALMGREN (SWE) df. Maria PREVOLARAKI (GRE) by Fall, 2:09 (2-0)

62kg (34 entries)
GOLD: Aisuluu TYNYBEKOVA (KGZ) df. Sakura MOTOKI (JPN), 4-1

BRONZE: Grace BULLEN (NOR) df. Bilyana DUDOVA (BUL), 3-0
BRONZE: Iryna KOLIADENKO (UKR) df. Luisa NIEMESCH (GER) by TF, 10-0 4:29

5th-Place Playoff: Luisa NIEMESCH (GER) df. Bilyana DUDOVA (BUL), 3-2

68kg (33 entries)
GOLD: Buse TOSUN (TUR) df. Delgermaa ENKHSAIKHAN (MGL) by Fall, 3:14 (3-4)

BRONZE: Koumba LARROQUE (FRA) df. Emma BRUNTIL (USA) by TF, 10-0, 5:13
BRONZE: Irina RINGACI (MDA) df. Ami ISHII (JPN), 8-8

5th-Place Playoff: Ami ISHII (JPN) df. Emma BRUNTIL (USA), 2-0

72kg (18 entries)
GOLD: Amit ELOR (USA) df. Davaanasan ENKH AMAR (MGL), 8-2

BRONZE: Zhamila BAKBERGENOVA (KAZ) df. Natalia STRZALKA (POL), 4-1
BRONZE: Miwa MORIKAWA (JPN) df. Kendra DACHER (FRA), 4-2

Greco-Roman

55kg (20 entries)
GOLD: Eldaniz AZIZLI (AZE) vs. Poya DAD MARZ (IRI)

Semifinal: Eldaniz AZIZLI (AZE) df. Poya DAD MARZ (IRI), 3-2
Semifinal: Nugzari TSURTSUMIA (GEO) df. Jasurbek ORTIKBOEV (UZB), 7-4

77kg (45 entries)
GOLD: Sanan SULEYMANOV (AZE) vs. Akzhol MAKHMUDOV (KGZ)

Semifinal: Sanan SULEYMANOV (AZE) df. Malkhas AMOYAN (ARM), 5-0
Semifinal: Akzhol MAKHMUDOV (KGZ) df. Nao KUSAKA (JPN), 7-5

82kg (24 entries)
GOLD: Rafig HUSEYNOV (AZE) vs. Alireza MOHMADIPIANI (IRI)

Semifinal: Rafig HUSEYNOV (AZE) df. Burhan AKBUDAK (TUR), 5-5
Semifinal: Alireza MOHMADIPIANI (IRI) df. Mihail BRADU (MDA), 5-1

130kg (30 entries)
GOLD: Riza KAYAALP (TUR) vs. Amin MIRZAZADEH (IRI)

Semifinal: Riza KAYAALP (TUR) df. Lingzhe MENG (CHN), 3-1
Semifinal: Amin MIRZAZADEH (IRI) df. Oscar PINO HINDS (CUB), 1-1

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

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World C'ships: Tynybekova fends off latest Japanese challenge; Fujinami regains world crown