#WrestleBudapest19

Zholdoshbekov Claims First Men’s Freestyle World Title for Kyrgyzstan Since 2005

By Taylor Miller

Photo of Ulukbek ZHOLDOSHBEKOV (KGZ) by Kadir Caliskan.

BUDAPEST, Hungary On Wednesday night at the 2019 U23 World Championships, Ulukbek ZHOLDOSHBEKOV (KGZ) did what no other men’s freestyle wrestler from his country has done since 2005—win a World title.

The last men’s freestyle wrestler from Kyrgyzstan in any age-group to win a World gold medal was Iliaz Ozumbekov at the 2005 Junior World Championships in Vilnius, Lithuania.

Competing at 61 kg, Zholdoshbekov faced 2016 Cadet World bronze medalist Ravinder RAVINDER (IND) in the gold-medal match.

Trailing at the break, Zholdoshbekov scored a takedown then added exposure halfway through the second period, which propelled him to an eventual 5-3 win.

After competing in seven World Championships, Zholdoshbekov finally claimed his first UWW World Championships medal. Last year, he came up just short in the U23 World bronze-medal match.

At 86 kg, Kamran GHASEMPOUR (IRI) won his second-consecutive U23 World championship with a decisive 9-3 win over Gadzhimurad MAGOMEDSAIDOV (AZE).

After a slow start in the first period, Ghasempour piled on the takedowns for the victory. The win adds to his 2018 U23 World gold and 2013 Cadet World silver.

Battling an injury the entire tournament, Razambek ZHAMALOV (RUS) came out on top in the 74 kg bracket.

Zhamalov, a 2018 Junior World silver medalist, faced off against 2017 Cadet World bronze medalist Mohammed NOKHODILARIMI (IRI) in the title bout.

The Russian used two four-point periods to zoom past the Iranian for an 8-1 win and the gold medal.

At 92 kg, Bo NICKAL (USA) was the first of the night to win his gold-medal match by technical fall.

Wrestling Batyrbek TSAKULOV (RUS), Nickal scored multiple times for a dominant 12-2 victory, which included a four-point takedown.

2018 Cadet World champion and 2019 Junior World silver medalist Amir Hossein ZARE (IRI) followed Nickal’s lead, shutting down 2016 U23 European bronze medalist Vitali GOLOEV (RUS) in the finals match at 125 kg, 10-0.

Zare won all four of his matches by technical fall for the 125 kg crown.

Russia won the team title with 145 points, followed by Iran with 139 points and Azerbaijan with 111 points. Throughout the 2019 season, Russia has won the men’s freestyle team title in every age-group, including Cadet, Junior, U23 and Senior.

Finals results
61 kg
GOLD - Ulukbek ZHOLDOSHBEKOV (KGZ) df. Ravinder RAVINDER (IND), 5-3
BRONZE - Dinislam TAKHTAROV (RUS) df. Arsen HARUTYUNYAN (ARM), fall
BRONZE - Ryutaro HAYAMA (JPN) df. Daulet TAZHIBAY (KAZ), 1-0

74 kg
GOLD - Razambek ZHAMALOV (RUS) df. Mohammed NOKHODILARIMI (IRI), 8-1
BRONZE - Byambadorj BAT ERDENE (MGL) df. Murad KURAMAGOMEDOV (HUN), 5-3
BRONZE - Giorgi SULAVA (GEO) df. Fazli ERYILMAZ (TUR), fall

86 kg
GOLD - Kamran GHASEMPOUR (IRI) df. Gadzhimurad MAGOMEDSAIDOV (AZE), 9-3
BRONZE - Hayato ISHIGURO (JPN) df. Ivan NEDEALCO (MDA), 11-0
BRONZE - Osman GOCEN (TUR) df. Gankhuyag GANBAATAR (MGL), 3-0

92 kg
GOLD - Bo NICKAL (USA) df. Batyrbek TSAKULOV (RUS), 12-2
BRONZE - Yonger Pauli BASTIDA POMARES (CUB) df. Demur MEGENEISHVILI (GEO), 6-2
BRONZE - Hossein Lotfali SHAHBAZIGAZVAR (IRI) df. Shamil ZUBAIROV (AZE), 5-1

125 kg
GOLD - Amir Hossein ZARE (IRI) df. Vitali GOLOEV (RUS), 10-0
BRONZE - Yusup BATIRMURZAEV (KAZ) df. Zuriko URTASHVILI (GEO), 13-2
BRONZE - Lkhagvagerel MUNKHTUR (MGL) df. Daniel Gregory KERKVLIET (USA), 4-4

Team standings
1. Russia – 145
2. Iran – 139
3. Azerbaijan – 111
4. Georgia – 109
5. Mongolia – 70
6. Japan – 65
7. Kazakhstan – 65
8. Turkey – 60
9. Ukraine – 58
10. USA – 57

 

 

 

 

#WrestleZagreb

Zagreb Open 2025 Ranking Series Entry List

By United World Wrestling Press

ZAGREB, Croatia (January 21) -- The first Ranking Series of the year will kick off in Zagreb, Croatia on February 5 at the Zagreb Arena.

The tournament will also mark the beginning of the new season and a new Olympic cycle for wrestlers with Ranking Series points up for grabs.

Wrestling will be on UWW+ live on uww.org and the UWW app. Follow UWW on Instagram, X, Facebook, YouTube.

Freestyle

57kg
Islam BAZARGANOV (AZE)
Luka GVINJILIA (GEO)
Roberti DINGASHVILI (GEO)
RAHUL (IND)
AMAN (IND)
Ahora KHATERI (IRI)
Roman BRAVO YOUNG (MEX)
Azamat TUSKAEV (SRB)
Kamil KERYMOV (UKR)
Daniel DESHAZER (USA)
Brandon COURTNEY (USA)
Spencer LEE (USA)

61kg
Nuraddin NOVRUZOV (AZE)
Joshua KRAMER (ECU)
Arman ELOYAN (FRA)
Giorgi GONIASHVILI (GEO)
Daviti ABDALADZE (GEO)
PANKAJ (IND)
Ahmad JAVAN (IRI)
Ebrahim KHARI (IRI)
Reza Hossein MOMENI (IRI)
Leomid COLESNIC (MDA)
Andrii DZHELEP (UKR)
Nahshon GARRETT (USA)
Michael MCGEE (USA)

65kg
Ali RAHIMZADE (AZE)
Ayub MUSAEV (BEL)
Khamzat ARSAMERZOUEV (FRA)
Goga OTINASHVILI (GEO)
Nika ZAKASHVILI (GEO)
Goderdzi DZEBISASHVILI (GEO)
Zoltan MIZSEI (HUN)
SIDDHARTH (IND)
Yasin REZAEI (IRI)
Ali KHORRAMDEL (IRI)
Abbas EBRAHIM (IRI)
Austin GOMEZ (MEX)
Krzysztof BIENKOWSKI (POL)
Erik ARUSHANIAN (UKR)
Joseph MCKENNA (USA)
Evan HENDERSON (USA)

70kg
Kanan HEYBATOV (AZE)
Akaki KEMERTELIDZE (GEO)
Iszmail MUSZUKAJEV (HUN)
Anuj KUMAR (IND)
Ebrahim ELAHI (IRI)
Sina KHALILI (IRI)
Vasile DIACON (MDA)
Patryk OLENCZYN (POL)
Ihor NYKYFORUK (UKR)
James GREEN (USA)
Jarrett JACQUES (USA)
Alec PANTALEO (USA)

74kg
Aghanazar NOVRUZOV (AZE)
Vedran LUKETIN (CRO)
Giorgi ELBAKIDZE (GEO)
Luka CHKHITUNIDZE (GEO)
Murad KURAMAGOMEDOV (HUN)
JAIDEEP (IND)
Ali REZAEI (IRI)
Andrzej SOKALSKI (POL)
Szymon WOJTKOWSKI (POL)
Kamil RYBICKI (POL)
Tajmuraz SALKAZANOV (SVK)
David CARR (USA)

79kg
Zelimkhan KHADJIEV (FRA)
Vladimeri GAMKRELIDZE (GEO)
Otari ADEISHVILI (GEO)
AMIT (IND)
Mahdi YOUSEFI (IRI)
Akhsarbek GULAEV (SVK)
Evan WICK (USA)
Rocco WELSH (USA)

86kg
Arsenii DZHIOEV (AZE)
Tariel GAPHRINDASHVILI (GEO)
Mukul DAHIYA (IND)
Abolfazl RAHMANI (IRI)
Matthew FINESILVER (ISR)
Eugeniu MIHALCEAN (MDA)
Krzysztof SADOWIK (POL)
Mukhammed ALIIEV (UKR)
Zahid VALENCIA (USA)
Trent HIDLAY (USA)
Nathan JACKSON (USA)

92kg
Abubakr ABAKAROV (AZE)
Osman NURMAGOMEDOV (AZE)
Adlan VISKHANOV (FRA)
Miriani MAISURADZE (GEO)
Iuza TSERTSVADZE (GEO)
Krisztian ANGYAL (HUN)
SACHIN (IND)
Mohammadmobin AZIMI (IRI)
Amirhossein FIROUZPOUR (IRI)
Uri KALASHNIKOV (ISR)
Benjamin HONIS (ITA)
Ivan ICHIZLI (MDA)
Cezary SADOWSKI (POL)
Boris MAKOEV (SVK)
Aaron BROOKS (USA)
Michael MACCHIAVELLO (USA)

97kg
Merab SULEIMANISHVILI (GEO)
Richard VEGH (HUN)
SAHIL (IND)
Abolfazl BABALOO (IRI)
Radu LEFTER (MDA)
Batyrbek TSAKULOV (SVK)
Kyle SNYDER (USA)
Jonathan AIELLO (USA)

125kg
Solomon MANASHVILI (GEO)
DINESH (IND)
Amirreza MASOUMI (IRI)
Kamil KOSCIOLEK (POL)
Murazi MCHEDLIDZE (UKR)
Trent HILLGER (USA)
Hayden ZILLMER (USA)
Mason PARRIS (USA)

Aiperi MEDET KYZY (KGZ)Aiperi MEDET KYZY (KGZ) and Kennedy BLADES (USA) at the Paris Olympics. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Amirreza Aliasgari)

Women's Wrestling

50kg
Nadezhda SOKOLOVA (AIN)
Kamila BARBOSA (BRA)
Emma LUTTENAUER (FRA)
Shivanee PAWAR (IND)
Gabija DILYTE (LTU)

55kg
Ekaterina VERBINA (AIN)
Elnura MAMMADOVA (AZE)
Samantha STEWART (CAN)
Tatiana DEBIEN (FRA)
Gerda TEREK (HUN)
Roza SZENTTAMASI (HUN)
JYOTI (IND)
MEENAKSHI (IND)
Mariana DRAGUTAN (MDA)
Areana VILLAESCUSA (USA)
Jacarra WINCHESTER (USA)

57kg
Olga KHOROSHAVTSEVA (AIN)
Zhala ALIYEVA (AZE)
Ramona GALAMBOS (HUN)
TAPSYA (IND)

59kg
Hiunai HURBANOVA (AZE)
Alyona KOLESNIK (AZE)
Erika BOGNAR (HUN)
ANJLI (IND)
Mariana CHERDIVARA (MDA)
Michaela BECK (USA)
Sofia MACALUSO (USA)

62kg
Amina TANDELOVA (AIN)
Bilyana DUDOVA (BUL)
Ameline DOUARRE (FRA)
Nikolett SZABO (HUN)
Yasmine SOLIMAN (HUN)
Bhagyashree FAND (IND)
Adaugo NWACHUKWU (USA)

65kg
Milla ANDELIC (CRO)
Eniko ELEKES (HUN)
MANISHA (IND)

68kg
Elizaveta PETLIAKOVA (AIN)
Adela HANZLICKOVA (CZE)
Pauline LECARPENTIER (FRA)
Noémi SZABADOS (HUN)
Karolina POK (HUN)
RADHIKA (IND)
Delgermaa ENKHSAIKHAN (MGL)
Kennedy BLADES (USA)

72kg
Zahra KARIMZADA (AZE)
Veronika VILK (CRO)
Noemi OSVATH NAGY (HUN)
PRIYANKA (IND)
Skylar GROTE (USA)

76kg
Valeriia TRIFONOVA (AIN)
Veronika NYIKOS (HUN)
PRIYA (IND)
Kamile GAUCAITE (LTU)
Yelena MAKOYED (USA)

Turpal BISULTANOV (DEN)Paris Olympic bronze medalist Turpal BISULTANOV (DEN) is entered at 87kg. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Amirreza Aliasgari) 

Greco-Roman

55kg
Elmir ALIYEV (AZE)
Eldaniz AZIZLI (AZE)
Peter TOTOK (HUN)
LALIT (IND)
Mahdi AHADI (IRI)
Artiom DELEANU (MDA)
Alexander CUEVAS (SGP)
Andrew KOONTZ (USA)
Jasurbek ORTIKBOEV (UZB)

60kg
Sadyk LALAEV (AIN)
Emin SEFERSHAEV (AIN)
Nihat MAMMADLI (AZE)
Huseyn GARIBOV (AZE)
PRAVESH (IND)
Pouya NASERPOUR (IRI)
Abere FETENE (ISR)
Melkamu FETENE (ISR)
Denis MIHAI (ROU)
Georgij TIBILOV (SRB)
Dalton ROBERTS (USA)
Maxwell BLACK (USA)
Alisher GANIEV (UZB)
Mehroj BAKHRAMOV (UZB)

63kg
Hleb MAKARANKA (AIN)
Dinislam BAMMATOV (AIN)
Ziya BABASHOV (AZE)
Murad MAMMADOV (AZE)
UMESH (IND)
Mohammad KESHTKAR (IRI)
Erfan JARKANI (IRI)
Vitalie ERIOMENCO (MDA)
Corneliu RUSU (MDA)
Ellis COLEMAN (USA)
Ildar HAFIZOV (USA)
Otto BLACK (USA)
Aytjan KHALMAKHANOV (UZB)
Islomjon BAKHRAMOV (UZB)

67kg
Daniial AGAEV (AIN)
Hasrat JAFAROV (AZE)
Farid KHALILOV (AZE)
Dominik ETLINGER (CRO)
Erik TORBA (HUN)
Vinayak PATIL (IND)
Mohammadreza GHOLAMI (IRI)
Ahmadreza MOHSEN NEZHAD (IRI)
Valentin PETIC (MDA)
Morten THORESEN (NOR)
Haavard JOERGENSEN (NOR)
Razvan ARNAUT (ROU)
Sebastian NAD (SRB)
Noe POC (SRB)
Alejandro SANCHO (USA)
Nozimjon BOYKUZIEV (UZB)

72kg
Aliaksandr LIAVONCHYK (AIN)
Ruslan NURULLAYEV (AZE)
Ulvu GANIZADE (AZE)
Luka IVANCIC (CRO)
Denis MERTL (CZE)
Matias LIPASTI (FIN)
Mikko PELTOKANGAS (FIN)
Krisztian VANCZA (HUN)
Levente LEVAI (HUN)
Ankit GULIA (IND)
Iman KHOON (IRI)
Danial SOHRABI (IRI)
Mohammadreza GERAEI (IRI)
Mihai PETIC (MDA)
Benjamin PEAK (USA)
Abdullo ALIEV (UZB)

77kg
Illia VALEUSKI (AIN)
Maksim SHEDZ (AIN)
Sergei KUTUZOV (AIN)
Sergei STEPANOV (AIN)
Khasay HASANLI (AZE)
Sanan SULEYMANOV (AZE)
Davud MAMMADOV (AZE)
Pavel PUKLAVEC (CRO)
Antonio KAMENJASEVIC (CRO)
Michal ZELENKA (CZE)
Oliver KRUEGER (DEN)
Akseli YLI HANNUKSELA (FIN)
Jonni SARKKINEN (FIN)
Robert FRITSCH (HUN)
Zoltan LEVAI (HUN)
KARAN (IND)
Amin KAVIYANI (IRI)
Amir ABDI (IRI)
Ali OSKOU (IRI)
Alexandrin GUTU (MDA)
Alexandru SOLOVEI (MDA)
Aryan BIN AZMAN (SGP)
Aleksa ILIC (SRB)
Artur POLITAIEV (UKR)
Doniyorkhon NAKIBOV (UZB)
Aram VARDANYAN (UZB)

82kg
Ilya BITSEYEU (AIN)
Shuai MAMEDAU (AIN)
Gurban GURBANOV (AZE)
Filip SACIC (CRO)
Karlo KODRIC (CRO)
Marek VRBA (CZE)
Peter DOEMOEK (HUN)
Erik SZILVASSY (HUN)
Dominik BOTOS (HUN)
Aman KUMAR (IND)
Gholamreza FAROKHI (IRI)
Mihail BRADU (MDA)
Vasile COJOC (ROU)
Uros LECIC (SRB)
Jesse PORTER (USA)
Samandar BOBONAZAROV (UZB)

87kg
Stanislau SHAFARENKA (AIN)
Ihar YARASHEVICH (AIN)
Aues GONIBOV (AIN)
Milad ALIRZAEV (AIN)
Rafig HUSEYNOV (AZE)
Islam ABBASOV (AZE)
Vjekoslav LUBURIC (CRO)
Matej MANDIC (CRO)
Ivan HUKLEK (CRO)
Ondrej HAVELKA (CZE)
Turpal BISULTANOV (DEN)
Istvan TAKACS (HUN)
David LOSONCZI (HUN)
Tamas LEVAI (HUN)
Sunil KUMAR (IND)
Naser ALIZADEH (IRI)
Islam YEVLOYEV (KAZ)
Marcel STERKENBURG (NED)
Exauce MUKUBU (NOR)
Patrik GORDAN (ROU)
Milos PEROVIC (SRB)
Aleksandr KOMAROV (SRB)
Spencer WOODS (USA)
Jalgasbay BERDIMURATOV (UZB)
Rahimjon UZOKOV (UZB)

97kg
Uladzislau PUSTASHYLAU (AIN)
Abubakar KHASLAKHANAU (AIN)
Kiryl MASKEVICH (AIN)
Magomed MURTAZALIEV (AIN)
Artur SARGSIAN (AIN)
Arif NIFTULLAYEV (AZE)
Murad AHMADIYEV (AZE)
Filip SMETKO (CRO)
Tomislav BRKAN (CRO)
Kristian LUKAC (CRO)
Ondrej DADAK (CZE)
Mathias BAK (DEN)
Arvi SAVOLAINEN (FIN)
Alex SZOKE (HUN)
Vendel VITAI (HUN)
SONU (IND)
Hamidreza BADKAN (IRI)
Shayan HABIBZARE (IRI)
Tyrone STERKENBURG (NED)
Nicu OJOG (ROU)
Uros KRSTIN (SRB)
Luka KATIC (SRB)

130kg
Dzmitry ZARUBSKI (AIN)
Sergei SEMENOV (AIN)
Marat KAMPAROV (AIN)
Sarkhan MAMMADOV (AZE)
Beka KANDELAKI (AZE)
Artur SARKISJAN (CZE)
Matti KUOSMANEN (FIN)
Konsta MAEENPAEAE (FIN)
Laszlo DARABOS (HUN)
Darius VITEK (HUN)
Koppany LASZLO (HUN)
Uttam RANA (IND)
Aliakbar YOUSOFI (IRI)
Courtney FREEMAN (USA)
Temurbek NASIMOV (UZB)

Note: The 53kg weight class in Women's Wrestling was removed after only one wrestler was registered for the same.