#WrestleOslo

#WrestleOslo: Sadulaev, Snyder Stay on Course for Final; Tynybekova Closer to 2nd Title

Monday, October 4, 2021 - 12:41 By Vinay Siwach

Share this article

OSLO, Norway (October 4) -- The crowd at the Jordan Amfi arena could well witness a rematch of the Olympic final for the second time in three days. After Hassan YAZDANI (IRI) avenged his loss to David TAYLOR (USA) Sunday at 86kg, it looks like Abdulrashid SADULAEV (RWF) and Kyle SNYDER (USA) will also meet in the final of the World Championships. The two had met in the 97kg final two months ago at the Tokyo Olympics.

Sadulaev and Snyder reached the semifinals at 97kg in Oslo in controlled wins in the quarterfinals. The two can only meet in the final Tuesday as they are on the either side of the bracket being the top two seeds.

Sadulaev survived a small scare in the quarters when Aliaksandr HUSHTYN (BLR) threw him for big four after Sadulaev had taken a 6-0 lead with two takedowns and two gut wrenches. But like a calm champion he continued his work and secured a 9-4 win scoring three stepouts in the second period.

Wrestling simultaneously on Mat D, Snyder humbled fellow 2019 World Championships bronze medalist Magomedgadji NUROV (MKD) 11-0. The American continued his workman like style and ended with a comfortable win. He will now face Mojtaba GOLEIJ (IRI) who defeated Alisher YERGALI (KAZ) 6-1 in the other quarterfinal.

Iran's good record in Oslo was only spoiled at 70kg when junior world champion Erfan ELAHI (IRI) suffered a heartbreaking 8-8 loss to Ernazar AKMATALIEV (KGZ). In a seesaw battle which Elahi thought he had won, Akmataliev was called the winner only after they challenged the final call which had the Iran wrestler winning 9-8.

On replays, the jury decided that Akmataliev began the action and scored two points before giving up two. But since Elahi got the last point, the extra point for reversal which was awarded initially was taken away, making the score 8-8 with the Kyrgyzstan wrestler leading on criteria. The two traded takedowns throughout the bout. He will now face Evgenii ZHERBAEV (RWF) who had a comfortable win over Batmagnai BATCHULUUN (MGL) via fall. 

In the other semifinal, Magomedmurad GADZHIEV (POL) will face Azerbaijan's young sensation Turan BAYRAMOV (AZE) who defeated two-time world medalist James GREEN (USA) 6-5. Bayramov led 4-1 after a takedown and gut but it was his defence that Green could not penetrate in the first period. He once almost got it but Bayramov scored a go behind to lead 6-1. The only time Green hit a double, he scored four points with 12 seconds remaining. But he could not score one more which would have given him the win.

Gadzhiev and Zurabi IAKOBISHVILI (GEO) were tied 1-1 with Georgian wrestler leading on criteria but the Poland wrestler used all his experience to score a takedown and a stepout to finish the bout 4-1.

Two women's wrestling weight classes were also in action Monday with Olympic silver medalist Aisuluu TYNYBEKOVA (KGZ) barely making it to the semifinals. First up for her was two-time cadet world champion and 18-year-old OZAKI (JPN) who led 4-0 early in the bout. But she was not able to finish the third takedown and Tynybekova scored two of her own and then one at the end to win 6-4.

In the quarterfinals, Veranika IVANOVA (BLR) led 6-4 against her and then went for a headlock, looking for four but failed to execute the move and Tynybekova controlled her in that grip and got the fall. Ilona PROKOPEVNIUK (UKR) will be her next opponent as she defeated Ana GODINEZ GONZALEZ (CAN) via fall.

Kayla MIRACLE (USA) will face Lais NUNES DE OLIVEIRA (BRA) in the other semifinal after she scored a victory by technical superiority 13-2 against Alina KASABIEVA (RWF). Nunes de Oliveira managed to scrape past Aleksandra WOLCZYNSKA (POL) 3-2.

At 55kg, 2019 World bronze medalist Olga KHOROSHAVTSEVA (RWF) defeated Esther KOLAWOLE (NGR) 12-2 to set up a semifinal against Tsugumi SAKURAI (JPN). The Japanese wrestler defeated Poland veteran Roksana ZASINA (POL) 4-0.

India's PINKI (IND) will wrestle Nina HEMMER (GER) in the semifinal after a victory via fall over Aisha UALISHAN (KAZ). Hemmer was trailing 2-2 on criteria against Andreea ANA (ROU) and tried a takedown. Ana, in defence, grabbed hold of Hemmer's neck which was called a four on review and that gave Hemmer a 3-2 win.

Quarterfinals Results:

FS 97kg
Mahamed ZAKARIIEV (UKR) df Suleyman KARADENIZ (TUR), 6-3
Abdulrashid SADULAEV (RWF) df Aliaksandr HUSHTYN (BLR), 9-4
Mojtaba GOLEIJ (IRI) df Alisher YERGALI (KAZ), 6-1
Kyle SNYDER (USA) df Magomedgadji NUROV (MKD), 11-0

FS 70kg
Evgenii ZHERBAEV (RWF) df Batmagnai BATCHULUUN (MGL), via fall
Ernazar AKMATALIEV (KGZ) df Erfan ELAHI (IRI), 8-8
Magomedmurad GADZHIEV (POL) df Zurabi IAKOBISHVILI (GEO), 4-1
Turan BAYRAMOV (AZE) df James GREEN (USA), 6-5

WW 62kg
Ilona PROKOPEVNIUK (UKR) df Ana GODINEZ GONZALEZ (CAN), via fall
Aisuluu TYNYBEKOVA (KGZ) df Veranika IVANOVA (BLR), via fall
Lais NUNES DE OLIVEIRA (BRA) df Aleksandra WOLCZYNSKA (POL), 3-2
Kayla MIRACLE (USA) df Alina KASABIEVA (RWF), 13-2

WW 55kg
Olga KHOROSHAVTSEVA (RWF) df Esther KOLAWOLE (NGR), 12-2
Tsugumi SAKURAI (JPN) df Roksana ZASINA (POL), 4-0
PINKI (IND) df Aisha UALISHAN (KAZ), via fall 
Nina HEMMER (GER) df Andreea ANA (ROU), 3-2

#WrestleSamokov

Kyrgyzstan, Moldova earn chance to end U20 World title drought

Sunday, August 17, 2025 - 18:58 By Vinay Siwach

Share this article

SAMOKOV, Bulgaria (August 17) -- Kyrgyzstan and Moldova earned a chance to end their gold-medal drought at the U20 World Championships.

On the first day of the 2025 World U20 Championships in Samokov, four Freestyle weight classes were in action. Adilet AKYLBEKOV (KGZ) was the surprised finalist at 74kg and will try to become Kyrgyzstan's first gold medal at the U20 World Championships in 20 years. He will take on European U23 champion Ismail KHANIEV (UWW) in the final.

At 70kg, Alexandr GAIDARLI (MDA) earned the final and will now try to become Moldova's first U20 world champ in Freestyle since 1999. He will take on returning bronze medalist PJ DUKE (USA) in the gold-medal bout.

The 125kg weight class will see an all-Asian final as Asian U20 champion Yedige KASSIMBEK (KAZ) earned a shot for the world title against Abolfazl MOHAMMAD NEZHAD (IRI), a wrestler over whom Kassimbek has a 3-0 head-to-head record.

Two returning bronze medalists, Duke and Justin RADEMACHER (USA), upgrade their bronze medals from last year and earn themselves a chance to win gold on Monday at 70kg and 97kg respectively.

Akylbekov, who had finished at 17th at 79kg last year, had a dream run on Sunday and ended one for Raul CASO (ITA) in the semifinals. Caso had posted two last-second victories, however, he failed to repeat those heroics in the semifinal against Akylbekov.

Caso was 3-2 and went attack-mode in the final 15 seconds. He almost scored a takedown over Akylbekov who managed to sneak out and then Caso jumped over to take control for a takedown. However, the Kyrgyz wrestler stood up to avoid giving up any points. Italy challenged for two points but lost that on review, giving one more point to Akylbekov.

While Caso was leaving it late in his wins, Akylbekov was contrastingly dominating them. He defeated Nicholas HOOPER (CAN), 12-0, in the opening bout, blanked Titas PIJORAITIS (LTU), 10-0 and then handed Dosszhan KUL GAIYP (KAZ) a 6-1 loss.

Ismail KHANIEV (UWW)Ismail KHANIEV (UWW) defeated Kanata YAMAGUCHI (JPN), 7-3, in the semifinal. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Amirreza Aliasgari)

He will now face Khaniev, who earned himself his first world medal at any level. Khaniev defeated Kanata YAMAGUCHI (JPN), 7-3, in a very close semifinal than the scoreline suggests.

Khaniev led 3-3 on criteria but Yamaguchi constantly threatened to score in the final 25 seconds. He hit a double-leg attack and planted Khaniev, who somehow managed to not land in danger. In a counter, Khaniev exposed Yamaguchi for two points and took a 5-3 lead. Yamaguchi tried a desperate throw in the final 15 seconds but Khaniev blocked it for two more points to win.

Earlier in the day, Khaniev avenged his European U20 Championships loss to Manuel WAGIN (GER) with a technical superiority win after he had beaten returning silver medalist Ladrion LOCKETT (USA).

Duke had his first big challenge of the day in the semifinals against former world U17 champion Erfan ELAHI (IRI) at 70kg. Duke scored a takedown while Elahi had a point for stepout and Duke's passivity. Duke's two-point scoring move gave him the criteria.

However, Elahi somehow thought he has the criteria and did not think of attacking in the final 30 seconds. When the bout was over, Elahi celebrated as if he had won only to realize that he has lost 2-2.

Duke will look to win his first a world title before wrestling at the senior World Championships later in September. He will take on Gaidarli for the gold-medal after the Moldovan won his semifinal 7-4 against Nurlan AGHAZADA (AZE).

Alexandr GAIDARLI (MDA)Alexandr GAIDARLI (MDA) reached the 70kg final in Samokov. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kadir Caliskan)

Gaidarli became the first Moldovan Freestyle wrestler to reach the final at U20 Worlds since 2019 after a stunningly good run in Samokov. He defeated European U20 champion Goga OTINASHVILI (GEO), 13-3, avenging his loss from Carole, Italy.

In the semifinals, he scored three takedowns in the second period against Aghazada to win 7-4, bettering his 18th-place finish from last year and earning a chance to end the gold-medal drought for Moldova.

Returning bronze medalist at 97kg Rademacher defeated European U20 champion Konstantine PETRIASHVILI (GEO) in the semifinals and will now try to win gold. Rademacher led 4-3 at the break extended his lead with a takedown for two points to start the second period, add another go-behind and single-leg to takedown to lead 10-3.

Petriashvili got an attack for two points but Rademacher was relentless in his wrestling and scored three more takedowns to win 16-5.

Magomedgadzhi MAGOMEDOV (UWW)Magomedgadzhi MAGOMEDOV (UWW) survived to win 11-9 against VISHAL (IND) in the 97kg semifinal. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Amirreza Aliasgari)

For the gold medal, he will face Magomedgadzhi MAGOMEDOV (UWW) who survived, with some help, for an 11-9 win over VISHAL (IND) who had Magomedov in all sorts of trouble. Magomedov led 10-4 when Vishal mounted a comeback against an absolutely broken Magomedov. He scored a takedown and Magomedov was cautioned for a singlet-pull foul which made it 10-7.

As the bout was restart in par terre, India challenged for two more points but the referee had blown the whistle before control from Vishal. That challenge gave enough breathing time to Magomedov to managed to hang on to his lead and win 11-9.

Yedige KASSIMBEK (KAZ)Yedige KASSIMBEK (KAZ) celebrates after winning his 125kg semifinal against Cole MIRASOLA (USA). (Photo: United World Wrestling / Amirreza Aliasgari)

Kassimbek had a very dominant semifinal as he defeated Cole MIRASOLA (USA), 11-0, inside the first period. He had two excellent counter takedowns and then locked up Mirasola's legs around his head and turns him twice. He finished things with a double-leg takedown.

Kassimbek has lost to two World U17 Championships finals before but he will have a good chance to win his first world title. He will take on Mohammad Nezhad, a wrestler he has defeated three times before.

The Iranian denied former world U17 champion Yusif DURSUNOV (AZE) after a 1-1 victory in the semifinal. Mohmmad Nezhad got the one point for passivity in the second period which gave him the criteria.

Mohammad Nezhad lost to Kassimbek for the first time in 2023 Asian U17 Championships final, 8-1, then at the same tournament in 2024, 2-2 in the semifinals. His third loss to Kassimbek came in the semifinals of the 2024 World U17 Championships, 4-3.

RESULTS

70kg
GOLD: PJ DUKE (USA) vs. Alexandr GAIDARLI (MDA) 

SF 1: Alexandr GAIDARLI (MDA) df. Nurlan AGHAZADA (AZE), 7-4
SF 2: PJ DUKE (USA) df. Ebrahim ELAHI (IRI), 2-2

74kg
GOLD: Ismail KHANIEV (UWW) vs. Adilet AKYLBEKOV (KGZ)

SF 1: Adilet AKYLBEKOV (KGZ) df. Raul CASO (ITA), 4-2
SF 2: Ismail KHANIEV (UWW) df. Kanata YAMAGUCHI (JPN), 7-3

97kg
GOLD: Magomedgadzhi MAGOMEDOV (UWW) vs. Justin RADEMACHER (USA)

SF 1: Justin RADEMACHER (USA) df. Konstantine PETRIASHVILI (GEO), 16-5
SF 2: Magomedgadzhi MAGOMEDOV (UWW) df. VISHAL (IND), 11-9

125kg
GOLD: Yedige KASSIMBEK (KAZ) vs. Abolfazl MOHAMMAD NEZHAD (IRI)

SF 1: Abolfazl MOHAMMAD NEZHAD (IRI) df. Yusif DURSUNOV (AZE), 1-1
SF 2: Yedige KASSIMBEK (KAZ) df. Cole MIRASOLA (USA), 11-0