TAMPERE, Finland (August 6) – Defending champion Zviadi PATARIDZE (GEO) eased to a 6-2 victory over challenger Roman KIM (KGZ) on Sunday and claimed his third title at the Junior Wrestling World Championships.

Pataridze rolled up three technical falls at 120kg in the morning session at Tampere Exhibition and Sport Center and appeared headed to a fourth in the championship final. The champ, however, was warned against “push-out” points as he dialed back his offense for the points victory.

Pataridze’s three world titles equals the three crowns he has won at the European junior championships, bringing his total in major age-group competitions to nine – with a one European cadet crown along with two cadet world titles.

Meanwhile, Iran secured the team title with a gold and silver medal on Sunday for a total of 58 points and a five-point win over second-place Russia. Turkey climbed into third place, overtaking first day leader U.S. with gold and bronze medals and 38 points.

Iran’s gold medal came from Asian junior champion Amin KAVIYANINEJAD (IRI) who backed Malkhas AMOYAN (ARM) out of the wrestling area with a minute remaining in the 66kg final for two points, a caution and a 3-3 victory.

Last year’s junior world bronze medalist Arman ABDEVALI (IRI) upgraded to silver at 84kg for Iran but could not overcome junior European champ Aleksandr KOMAROV (RUS) in the gold medal match.

Komarov pulled himself behind Abdevali for two points early in the bout and quickly added two more with a gut wrench. Under pressure from Abdevali in the second period, Komarov escaped from the edge of the mat, dropping his opponent to his back for four points and the technical fall.

In the first gold medal final of the evening at 55kg, European champ Kerim KAMAL (TUR) grabbed a 4-1 lead over Zholaman SHARSHENBEKOV (KGZ) in the first period with a pair of throws. He broke the bout open in the second with a four-point throw and 12-3 technical fall.

In the bronze medal bouts at 55kg, 2015 cadet world champ Turabek TIRKASHEV (UZB) locked up a front headlock and cranked Serghei JEPAN (MDA) over for a pair of four-point scores and the technical fall. 

European silver medalist Emin SEFERSHAEV (RUS) received the final passivity point for a 2-2 win over Tigran MINASYAN (ARM) -- changed to 3-2 after a lost challenge from the Armenian corner.

At 66 kg, Miakhdi IAKHIAEV (RUS) scored with a step-out in the first period and a bodylock takedown for a 3-1 win over Mikko PELTOKANGAS (FIN), while Namaz RUSTAMOV (AZE) held on for a 2-2 win over former European junior champion  Murat FIRAT (TUR)

At 84kg, Salih AYDIN (TUR) scored a late takedown for a 3-2 lead, adding a gut wrench and then, coming out of a final scramble for a 7-4 win over 2015 cadet world bronze medalist Nicu OJOG (ROU).

Mikita KLIMOVICH (BLR) weathered a storm of headlocks that put hi, down 4-0 to local favorite Toni METSOMAEKI (FIN) after three minutes. The European silver medalist took control midway through the second with takedown a series of gut wrenches for a 12-9 victory.

And, prior to Pataridze’s final at 120kg, Konsta MAEENPAEAE (FIN) caught Patryk KAMINSKI (POL) in a headlock for two points, arched him over for a quick 6-0 lead. With the vocal support of local fans, Maeenpaeae scored back exposure on Kaminski with a front headlock for the technical fall – as the  crowd went wild

In the bronze medal bout of the championships, Amin MIRZAZADEH (IRI), a fifth-place finisher at last year’s junior world meet, followed up on a spin-behind takedown with a series of gut wrenches for an 8-0 technical fall over European silver medalist Georgi GADZHINOV (RUS).

Results of Gold & Bronze Medal Matches, Final Team Rankings

Greco-Roman

55kg (22 entries)
Gold – Kerem KAMAL (TUR) df. Zholaman SHARSHENBEKOV (KGZ) by TF, 12-3, 4:09
Bronze – Turabek TIRKASHEV (UZB) df. Serghei JEPAN (MDA) by TF, 8-0, 1:33
Bronze – Emin SEFERSHAEV (RUS) df. Tigran MINASYAN (ARM), 3-2

66kg (27 entries)
Gold – Amin KAVIYANINEJAD (IRI) df. Malkhas AMOYAN (ARM), 3-3
Bronze – Miakhdi IAKHIAEV (RUS) df. Mikko PELTOKANGAS (FIN), 3-1 
Bronze – Namaz RUSTAMOV (AZE) df. Murat FIRAT (TUR), 2-2

84kg (28 entries)
Gold – Aleksandr KOMAROV (RUS) df. Arman ALIZADEH ABDEVALI (IRI) by TF, 9-0, 3:16
Bronze – Salih AYDIN (TUR) df. Nicu OJOG (ROU), 7-4 
Bronze – Mikita KLIMOVICH (BLR) df. Toni METSOMAEKI (FIN), 12-9

120kg (22 entries)
Gold – Zviadi PATARIDZE (GEO) df. Roman KIM (KGZ), 6-2
Bronze – Konsta MAEENPAEAE (FIN) df.  Patryk KAMINSKI (POL) by TF, 8-0, 1:49
Bronze – Amin MIRZAZADEH (IRI) df. Georgi GADZHINOV (RUS) by TF, 8-0, 1:37

Final Team Rankings (Top Six)

1. Iran, 58 points (3 gold medals, 1 silver, 1 bronze)
2. Russia, 53 (1-1-3)
3. Turkey, 38 (1-0-1)
4. United States, 29 (1-1-0)
5. Kyrgyzstan, 28 (0-3-0)
6. Finland, 28 (0-0-2)