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Zagreb Open Day 5 Greco Finals Set

Sunday, February 9, 2025 - 09:03 By United World Wrestling Press

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ZAGREB, Croatia (February 9) -- The Zagreb Open 2025 enters its final day with a full day of Greco-Roman wrestling. Wrestlers in 55kg, 60kg, 72kg, 82kg, 97kg and 130kg will be in action.

WATCH LIVE | LIVE MATCH ORDER | BISULTANOV WINS GOLD

14:00: Two losses for Azerbaijan in the 130kg semifinals. Aliakbar YOUSOFI (IRI) beats Sarkhan MAMMADOV (AZE) 9-1 and Beka KANDELAKI (AZE) drops his bout 4-3 against Konsta MAEENPAEAE (FIN). Kandelaki was leading 3-0 but tripped on the mat and Maeenpaeae scored a go behind and turn to win 4-3.

13:52: Quick finishes to the 97kg semifinals! Artur SARGASIAN (AIN) gets a turn, a throw and another turn to beat Arvi SAVOLAINEN (FIN) 9-0 to enter the final. He will take on Abubakar KHASLAKHANAU (AIN) also scored a technical superiority win over Shayan HABIBZARE (IRI). 

13:45: Big win for Gholamreza FAROKHI (AZE) who beats Gurban GURBANOV (AZE) 11-3. Farokhi was 3-0 down but got a bodylock for four to lead 4-3 in the first period. He scored a takedown as Gurbanov fell while fleeing a hold and then rolled him three times for six points using a trap-arm. He will take on world silver medalist Erik SZILVASSY (HUN) in the final after the Hungarian defeated Mihail BRADU (MDA) 4-3.

13:35: In the two 72kg semifinals, both of which were Iran vs Hungary, the two countries share a win each. Tokyo Olympic champion Mohammadreza GERAEI (IRI) falls to Levente LEVAI (HUN) 1-1 despite Geraei getting two par terre advantages. However, in the other semifinal, Danial SOHRABI (IRI) takes out Krisztian VANCZA (HUN) 6-1 to enter the final.

13:25: Georgij TIBILOV (SRB) with a high-paced win over Pouya NASERPOUR (IRI) in the other 60kg semifinal. He gets both par terre advantages and also scores a turn to win 4-0. Ganiev vs Tibilov final.

13:20: Mehroj BAKHRAMOV (UZB) may have beaten two world champion but he can't get past U23 world champion and compatriot Alisher GANIEV (UZB) in the 60kg semifinals. Bakhramov is put in par terre first and Ganiev reels off with two turns before a big four-point throw to win 9-0.

13:00: First semifinals at 55kg. European champion Artium DELEANU (MDA) suffers a big upset as Mahdi AHADI ZENAB (IRI) scores four turns from par terre to win 9-0. He will take on Elmir ALIYEV (AZE) in the final who defeated Brady KOONTZ (USA) 5-0 in the other semifinal.

12:20: Danial SOHRABI (IRI) gets a walk over from world champion Ulvi GANIZADE (AZE) who hurt his shoulder in the previous bout at 72kg

12:15: Alisher GANIEV (UZB), U23 world champion at 60kg, just gut wrenched Maxwell BLACK (USA) for a 8-0 win. He will wrestle Mehroj BAKHRAMOV (UZB) in the 60kg semifinals.

12:00: A 97kg bout that was missed due to all the Bakhramov hype! Artur SARGSIAN (AIN) registered a 3-2 win over Alex SZOKE (HUN).

11:40: Mehroj BAKHRAMOV (UZB) has to be the most unfazed wrestler today! After beating Edlaniz AZIZLI (AZE), he takes out another world champion in Nihat MAMMADLI (AZE) at 60kg. After a 4-0 lead, Bakhramov got thrown for four points but comes out all guns blazing in the second period to earn a par terre advantage. As he tries to turn Mammadli, a foul committed by the Azerbaijan which was confirmed on challenge. With 7-4 lead, Bakhramov hits a beautiful throw for four. Two stepouts in the final minute but Bakhramov holds on for a 11-6 win

11:30: Mohammadreza GERAEI (IRI) survived a fall attempt from Iman Khoon MOHAMMADI (IRI) after the latter blocked a headpinch attempt. Geraei was down 3-2 but keeps his calm to win 8-3 at 72kg

11:15: Abubakar KHASLAKHANAU (AIN) comes out with a top quality win over Hamidreza BADKAN (IRI) at 97kg. No issue for the Paris Olympian

Wrestling on Mat C is on hold as there is some issue with the mat. Action will resume soon

11:00: 2021 world champion at 130kg, Aliakbar YOUSOFI (IRI) gets his par terre going and rolls to an 11-1 win over European champion Sergei SEMENOV (AIN)

10:50: U23 world champion Alisher GANIEV (UZB) opens his day with a 8-0 technical superiority win over Sadyk LALAEV (AIN) at 60kg. At just 18, Ganiev has built a great resume for himself.

10:45: Nihat MAMMADLI (AZE) needed 49 seconds in the second period to see off Melkamu FETENE (ISR) in his opening bout at 60kg! The world champion is hoping to be Azerbaijan's rep for the European Championships.

10:30: Mehroj BAKHRAMOV (UZB) has tossed Eldaniz AZIZLI (AZE) around from par terre! Azizli, world champion at 55kg, is wrestling at 60kg in Zagreb but perhaps it's not meant to be. Bakhramov with two lifts and easy 9-0 win

10:15: At the Non-Olympic World Championships in Tirana last year, Benjamin PEAK (USA) stunned the wrestling world with a 11-3 victory over Mohammadreza GERAEI (IRI) at 72kg. However, Sunday is a different story as Geraei draws him first bout here in Zagreb and toys with Peak to win 11-0.

10:10: That is a great start for Iran as Hamidreza BADKAN (IRI) pulls off a 2-1 victory over Kiryl MASKEVICH (AIN) at 97kg.

10:00: Big wrestling day in Zagreb with six Greco-Roman weight classes in action. We have a few current and former world champions wrestling

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Zagreb Open: 'Calm' Khaslakhanau creates storm, Hedayati wins 130kg

Monday, January 15, 2024 - 01:54 By Vinay Siwach

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ZAGREB, Croatia (January 14) -- Abubakar KHASLAKHANAU (AIN) had not wrestled Arvi SAVOLAINEN (FIN) before. But he had watched his World Championships loss in the pre-quarterfinals. A headlock throw saw Savolainen get pinned in Belgrade last year and end his chances of winning a senior World Championships medal and a Paris Olympic quota.

So when the two met in the Zagreb Open Ranking Series final at 97kg on Saturday, Khaslakhanau did not waste any time and hit a headlock for four. While he did not get the pin, he managed to finish the final in a minute and six seconds and claim the gold medal as the tournament came to a close with six Greco-Roman weight classes.

Khaslakhanau, who finished fifth at the World Championships after losing to Gabriel ROSILLO (CUB) and Mohammadhadi SARAVI (IRI) in the bronze medal bout, showed why he could be a big medal threat in Paris as he calmly went about business and won five bouts in some fashion.

Beginning with a 13-5 win over Giorgi KATSANASHVILI (GEO), Khaslakhanau scored an 8-1 win over Nikoloz KAKHELASHVILI (ITA). He defeated Aleksandar STJEPANETIC (SWE) 8-0 in the quarterfinals and faced Murad AHMADIYEV (AZE) in the semifinal which turned out to be a close one.

Ahmadiyev was quick to take an aggressive approach in the bout but Khaslakhanau kept himself calm and got the first par terre advantage. He scored a turn to lead 3-0 against Ahmadiyev who got par terre advantage in the second period but failed to score. Khaslakhanau decided to keep the 3-1 lead and thwarted every Ahmadiyev attack to win. A stepout in the final second of the bout made it 4-1.

In the final, Savolainen was just getting started when Khaslakhanau hit a stunning headlock and held the Finland wrestler on his back. Savolainen had Khaslakhanau on his back to earn two points but he could not do that for long. Khaslakhanau once again went on top, giving him two more points. Savolainen was cautioned for blocking and asked to return in par terre trailing 8-2.

Khaslakhanau lifted Savolainen for a big throw but managed only a two-point throw which ended the bout. Finland challenged that it was only a stepout which was the case but the replays showed Savolainen blocking Khalakhanau again. A second caution and two points were awarded against him, ending the bout 11-2.

Abubakar KHASLAKHANAU (AIN)Abubakar KHASLAKHANAU (AIN) won the 97kg gold medal in Zagreb. (Photo: UWW / Kadir Caliskan)

"Today’s matches went perfect," Khaslakhanau said. "All the five matches were tough apart from the final. I had to prepare for each one in the same way. That’s why I am satisfied with my performance, but it’s not a limit, I should still work more and achieve more."

Despite perfect bouts, the U20 world champion maintained an expressionless face and did not give away much.

"I am a very disciplined wrestler thanks to my coach Kiril FOMENKO," he said. "Being respectful to my opponents doesn’t let me show any emotions. That’s why I am so reserved when I lose and when I win."

Khaslakhanau will now head to the European Championships but a clash with U23 world champion Pavel HLINCHUK (AIN) did not take place after the latter lost his quarterfinal.

"We wrestle together at the training, we also wrestled each other two times at competitions, I lost both times," he said.

Just 19 years old, Khaslakhanau has added two world titles to his name and qualified for the Paris Olympics. But it was only a piece of luck that he ended up being a wrestler.

"I started wrestling when I was 10 years old," he said. "A coach came to school to choose the kids and he invited me and I decided to give it a try. I liked it. I train in the wrestling club “Legend”. I want to say that it’s the best club at least in our country, and soon will be the best one in the world."

Savolainen was satisfied with his wrestling till the final and said that he knows his weakness and will continue to work on it.

"I was quite happy until the evening. In the final, it was the same mistake as the World Championships where I lost because of the same head throw," he said. "It could have been my time on the mat in the second period but we never got there in the final."

Fardin HEDAYATI (IRI)Fardin HEDAYATI (IRI) defeated Oscar PINO (CUB) 8-2 in the 130kg quarterfinals. (Photo: UWW / Kostadin Andonov)

Another U20 world champion had a great day in office as Fardin HEDAYATI (IRI) won the gold medal at 130kg after two big wins. His first big test came against world bronze medalist Oscar PINO (CUB) and he passed that with flying colors, winning 8-2.

In the final, Hedayati faced Asian silver medalist Lingzhe MENG (CHN). After giving up the first passivity, Hedayati scored two stepouts before getting a par terre advantage in the second period to win 3-1.

The victory makes Hedayati the real successor behind world champion Amin MIRZAZADEH (IRI) at 130kg. Only time will tell when Hedayati will take over the reins from Mirzazadeh who is likely to go to Paris and will have to wrestle Hedayati.

At 60kg, Victor CIOBANU (MDA) pulled out injured and Sadyk LALAEV (AIN) got the gold medal. That was after both Lalaev and Ciobanu had a dominant morning session. Ciobanu defeated Edmond NAZARYAN (BUL) 3-3 in an action-packed semifinal.

Nazaryan led 1-1 on criteria after par terre advantage. At one point, he lifted Ciobanu for a suplex but the Moldovan used his hands to avoid landing in danger position, saving him from giving up any points. Moldova challenged the call asking for two points as Ciobanu landed on top of Nazaryan but it was deemed clean with no points to any wrestler.

Ciobanu, trailing on criteria, got Nazaryan in a lock and as he tried to score a takedown, Nazaryan got the exposure and then Ciobanu scored a reversal. The referees ruled it two points only for Ciobanu. Bulgaria challenged the call and the judge ruled it two points each to both wrestlers with Ciobanu scoring later which gave him a 3-3 criteria and the win.

Lalaev defeated two Individual Neutral Athletes before beating Ihor KUROCHKIN (UKR) 9-0 in the semifinal.

Ulvi GANIZADE (AZE)Ulvi GANIZADE (AZE) won the 72kg gold medal in Zagreb. (Photo: UWW / Kadir Caliskan)

In the two non-Olympic weight classes of 72kg and 82kg, Ulvi GANIZADE (AZE) and Erik SZILVASSY (HUN) were the respective gold medalists.

Ganizade took on Levente LEVAI (HUN) and began with a big front headlock throw for four, got another point for par terre and got two more when Levai tried to throw him but landed on his own back. No more points were awarded and Ganizade won 7-0.

In the 82kg final Ezilvassy took on U20 world champion Alperen BERBER (TUR) and never gave the youngster a chance to trouble him. Ezilvassy scored a turn from par terre and added a takedown in the second period to rule out any passivity warning against him. He won 5-0.

Adem UZUN (TUR) and Maksim STUPAKEVICH (AIN) were the only two wrestlers entered in 55kg and Uzun was too good for Stupakevich, winning the gold medal 10-2.

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RESULTS

55kg
GOLD: Adem UZUN (TUR) df. Maksim STUPAKEVICH (AIN), 10-2

60kg
GOLD: Sadyk LALAEV (AIN) df. Victor CIOBANU (MDA), via inj. def.

BRONZE: Anvar ALLAKHIAROV (AIN) df. Ihor KUROCHKIN (UKR), 9-0
BRONZE: Edmond NAZARYAN (BUL) df. Hafizov ILDAR (USA), 5-1

72kg
GOLD: Ulvi GANIZADE (AZE) df. Levente LEVAI (HUN), 7-0

BRONZE: Dominik ETLINGER (CRO) df. Calebe CORREA (BRA), 9-0
BRONZE: Muhammed GOCMEN (TUR) df. Iulian LUNGU (ROU), 9-0

82kg
GOLD: Erik SZILVASSY (HUN) df. Alperen BERBER (TUR), 5-0

BRONZE: Deni NAKAEV (GER) df. Mahmoud SEBIE (USA), 6-2 
BRONZE: Mats AHLGREN (SWE) df. Tornike DZAMASHVILI (GEO), 6-3

97kg
GOLD: Abubakar KHASLAKHANAU (AIN) df. Arvi SAVOLAINEN (FIN), 11-2

BRONZE: Pavel HLINCHUK (AIN) df. Alex SZOKE (HUN), via inj. def.
BRONZE: Aleksandar STJEPANETIC (SWE) df. Murad AHMADIYEV (AZE), 3-2

130kg
GOLD: Fardin HEDAYATI (IRI) df. Lingzhe MENG (CHN), 3-1

BRONZE: Dariusz VITEK (HUN) df. Beka KANDELAKI (AZE), 7-4
BRONZE: Mantas KNYSTAUTAS (LTU) df. Laszlo DARABOS (HUN), via inj. def.