Iran Seeks Record-Setting Third-Straight Team Title

LOS ANGELES, UNITED STATES (March 14) - The Iranian freestyle team looks poised to make wrestling history this weekend. Sporting one of the strongest lineups in the country’s storied history, the Iranian side is seeking a record third-straight World Cup title.

The current kings of wrestling team competition arrive in Los Angeles with a wealth of talent at their disposal, with World and Olympic medalists at an incredible six of the eight weights. Spearheading the Iranian effort will be top ranked Hassim RAHIMI at 57kg and Reza YAZDANI at 97kg, both gold medalists at the World Championships last year.

For the Iranians to three-peat they’ll likely need to make it past a talented Russia squad which includes 2013 World Champion Bekhan GOYGEREEV at 61kg and 2013 world bronze medalist Nariman ISRAPILOV at 57kg Th Ukraine also brings talent to Los Angeles with 2013 World Champion Ibragim ALDATOV at 86kg and Vasyl FEDORYSHYN at 81kg taking the mat in the hope of propelling their country to victory. Meanwhile the United States hopes its two 2012 Olympic champs Jake VARNER at 97kg and Jordan BURROUGHS at 74kg can lead Team USA to a championship in front of their home crowd.

Russia, the runner-up at the last two World Cups comes into this event as the favorites to face Iran in the gold medal finals, but they must pass stiff tests from proven group of Ukrainians and a surprising Mongolian side, which has enough talent to play the spoiler to the aspirations of the traditional freestyle wrestling powers. While Mongolia attempts to take down the best, India, another rising wrestling force from Asia, makes history by competing in its first World Cup.

While some of the greatest wrestling teams in the world showcase their amazing skills, fans should expect a full display of the athletes’ national passions in a various regional rivalries on display in pool competition. In Pool A, Turkey faces Armenia.  In Pool B another blockbuster dual takes place as Russia and Ukraine meet each other in a battle which thrusts the Freestyle Wrestling World Cup into the center of the maelstrom of current international affairs, the same place the 2013 edition of this event found itself when hosted in the Iranian capital of Tehran.

Online Broadcast

An official Livestream will be provided for each match at FILA-Offical.com, and on YouTube.

World Cup Schedule

Saturday, March 15

Session I

11:00 – USA vs. Armenia; India vs. Turkey

12:00 – USA vs. India; Iran vs. Armenia

13:00 – Georgia vs. Japan, Mongolia vs. Russia

14:00 – Japan vs. Mongolia; Ukraine vs. Russia

17:00 – Opening Ceremonies

Session II

17:30 – Iran vs. Turkey; Armenia vs. India

18:30– USA vs. Iran; Turkey vs. Armenia

19:30 – Mongolia vs. Georgia; Japan vs. Ukraine

20:30 – Georgia vs. Ukraine; Russia vs. Japan

Sunday, March 16

Session III

11:00 – Iran vs. India, USA vs. Turkey

12:00 – Russia vs. Georgia; Ukraine vs. Mongolia

13:30 – Seventh-place match and Ninth-place match

14:30 – Fifth-place match

Session IV

17:00 – Third-place match

18:00 – First-place match and Award Ceremonies

World Cup Format

The World Cup of Freestyle Wrestling is a team competition where only the ten top finishing teams of the previous year’s World Championships receive invitations. The teams contest the event in a dual meet format where one country’s team matches up against another, and a single competitor from each team, in each weight class, face off in a single bout. The eight bouts of each dual meet occur in order of the following weights: 57kg, 61kg, 65kg, 70kg, 74kg, 86kg, 97kg and 125kg. For every bout won, a team earns a single point, and the team with the most points at the end wins the meet. The following criteria determine the winner in the case of a tied meet:

1. The total classification points

2. The most victories by fall, default, forfeit or disqualification

3. The most victories by superiority

4. The most technical points scored during the individual matches

5. The fewest technical points given during the individual matches

6. The outcome of the last individual match

World Cup dual meets take place within two, five-team pools. The teams compete in a round robin format within each pool. The two pool winners will wrestle for team gold, while the two pool runner-ups will wrestle for team bronze.

In addition to the team medals, the World Cup also awards individual medals in each weight class. An individual medal at the Freestyle World Cup carries the weight of prestige and significance; seven medalists at the 2012 World Cup in Baku went on to medal at the London Olympics a few months later.

Pool A consists of Iran, USA, India, Armenia, Turkey, while Pool B includes Russia, Georgia, Ukraine, Mongolia, Japan.

What To Watch For in Pool A

Iran

In 2013, Hassan RAHIMI (57kg) won the World Championships, and earned his second world medal. Five years ago, he became a 2009 Junior World champion.

Masoud ESMAILPOOR (61kg) rode his tireless, aggressive and physical style to the bronze medal at the 2013 World Championships in Budapest. In 2008 the Iranian showed his future potential with Junior World Championship.

Last year Ezzatollah AKBARI (74kg) came out of nowhere to place second in 2013 World Championships, losing only to the USA’s Jordan BURROUGHS in a competitive match.

Ehsan LASHGARI (86kg) possesses a rare strength which allows him to throw his opponents through the air with ease. This Iranian standout has earned bronze medals at both the 2013 World Championships and 2012 Olympic Games

Compact, powerful, and fast, Reza YAZDANI (97kg) lives up to the nickname ‘Panther of Juybar’.  At this point in time he stands alone as the top wrestler at his weight in the world. Yazdani won World Championships in 2011 and 2013, World Championships bronze medals in 2006 and 2007, and placed fifth in the 2012 Olympic Games.

USA

Jordan BURROUGHS (74kg) is the greatest American wrestler in a generation, and gold medalist in the last three world-level championships: the 2011 World Championships, the 2013 World Championships and the 2012 Olympics.

After a yearlong absence the second of the USA’s 2012 Olympic wrestling gold medalist Jake VARNER (97kg) returns to the mat to continue piling up championships.  Time and time again, Tervel DLAGNEV (125kg) has proven himself one of the sport’s top big men. The Texas native placed third in the 2009 World Championships, and has finished fifth in the world three times.

India

Amit KUMAR (57kg) has grown into India’s most consistently excellent wrestler. In 2013, KUMAR broke through with the biggest performance of his career with a silver medal at the World Championships. His excellent 2013 also included an Asian Championship.

Parveen RANA’s (74kg) form continues to improve and he asserted himself as a truly world class wrestler by winning the 2014 Dave Schultz Memorial International . In past two years, he has won gold at the British Commonwealth Championships and bronze at the 2012 Asian Championships.

Armenia

Artur ARAKELYAN (65kg) enters the World Cup as the best wrestler in the Armenian lineup. In 2013, he placed fifth in the World Championships. Before last year the Armenian finished on the cusp of an Olympic berth by finishing fifth in Finland’s 2012 Olympic Qualification Tournament.

Davit APOYAN (70kg), still young and promising, looks to make good on the potential he showed two years ago when he won the 2012 Stepan Sargsyan Tournament in his home country, and placed third in 2012 Junior World Championships.

Turkey

Mustafa KAYA (65kg) boasts the best resume on a young Turkish squad.  The Turk won bronze in the 2012 World University Championships and the 2012 Junior World Championships. More recently, KAYA has found success on the mat in his homeland, finishing in third at the 2013 and 2014 Yasar Dogu International.

The 20-year-old Selahattin KILICSALLAYAN (70kg) looks like he could be a star for years to come after championships at the Junior World championships and Junior European championships, both in 2013.

Wrestlers to watch in Pool B

Russia

Dagestani Nariman ISRAPILOV (57kg) comes into this event after a banner 2013 which saw him earn bronze at the World Championships, and gold at the 2013 World University Games. Six years ago, ISRAPILOV won a Junior World championship.

Massive and impressive at his weight class, Bekhan GOYGEREEV (61kg) claim his first World championship in 2013, along with a gold at the 2013 World University Games.

Khadjimurat GATSALOV (97kg) will go down in history as one of the best wrestlers to ever lace up a pair of shoes. Last year he won his fifth World championship to go along with his 2004 Olympic championship,  2010 World Championships silver and 2001 Junior World championship.

Georgia

Beka BUJIASHVILI (57kg) has youth and enormous potential on his side. The Georgian placed third in the 2013 Junior World Championships. Levan KELEKHSASHVILI (65kg) is coming off a solid year in 2013 where he place fifth in the 2013 World Championships, and second in prestigious 2013 Moscow Lights tournament.

In 2013, Georgia’s newest wrestling star was born. At only 20 years of age, Geno PETRIASHVILI (125kg) placed third in 2013 World Championships and won the 2013 Junior World Championships.

Ukraine

Vasyl FEDORYSHYN (61kg) remains one of the greatest wrestlers never to win a World or Olympic gold medal. In 2008, he placed second at the Olympics, and he medaled in both 2010 and 2009 World Championships where he earned silver and bronze, respectively. Additionally, he finished just off the podium in fourth at the 2004 Olympic Games.

After a disappointing London Games, Ibragim ALDATOV (86kg) entered the 2013 World Championships under the radar, and walked away with his second World championship. This elder statesman of the Ukrainian side also won silver medals at the 2007 and 2011 World Championships, and third in the 2009 World Championships. After numerous medals in a myriad of international tournaments, Pavlo OLIINYK (97kg) broke through in 2013 with a bronze in the 2013 World Championships.

After moving up in weight, Alen ZASEEV (120kg) established himself as one of the world’s top heavyweights when he defeated both Turkey’s Taha AKGUL and Tervel DLAGBEV to take second in 2013 World Championships.

Mongolia

After a 2012 Junior World gold medal, Erdenebat BEKHBAYAR (57kg) could not quite make it to the medal matches at the 2013 World Championships in Budapest, where he finished in ninth.

Enkhsaikhan NYAM-OCHIR  (61kg) just missed a medal at the 2013 world championships, placing fifth. Since then, he has shown a hot hand winning Turkey’s 2014 Yasar Dogu champion and the 2014 Grand Prix of Paris. At the 2013 World Championships, Ganzorig MANDAKHNARAN (65kg) earned a bronze medal for Mongolia, and like his teammate at 61kg, he won the Grand Prix of Paris earlier this year.

With top-ten finishes at four World Championships, Buyanjav BATZORIG (70kg) has knocked on the door of greatness for a while, now he looks to finally become the world’s best at this new weight.

Japan

Fumika MORISHITA (57kg) announced a bright future for himself with a bronze medal at the 2012 Junior World Championships. Earlier this year, he continued his ascent up the ranks of the world’s top 57kg wrestlers with a silver medal at the 2014 Yasar Dogu International.

In 2012 and 2013 Tomotsugu ISHIDA (65kg) placed third at the Asian Championships. However, the highpoint of this Japanese wrestler’s competitive career came in 2010 when he became a World University champion

Sohsuke TAKATANI (74kg) finished seventh in 2013 World Championships, and represented Japan in the 2012 Olympics.

Complete Delegation Rosters

Iran

57kg– Hassan Rahimi

57kg–Mehran Rezazadeh

61kg- Masoud Esmailpoor Jouybari

61kg- Sayed Ahmad Mohammadi Pahnehkolaie

65kg– Meysam Nasiri

65kg– Ebrahim Nasirafrachali

70kg– Mostafa Hosseinkhani

70kg– Peyman Yaramadi

74kg-  Ezzatollah Akbari Zarinkolaei

74kg -  Reza Afzalipaemami

86kg– Ehsan Lashgari

86kg– Meisam Mostafajoukar

86kg– Ali Reza Karmimachiani

97kg– Reza Yazdani

97kg– Hamed Talebi Zarinkamar

125kg– Komeil Ghasemi

125kg– Parviz Hadi Basmanj

Team Leader – Ali Bayat

Coaches – Rasoul Khadem, Gholamreza Mohammadi, Reza Layegh, Amir Tavakolian, Mohsen Kaveh, Hossein Naghibi, Aliakbar Dodangeh

Referee – Mohammed Ebrahim Emami

Doctors – Sadeh Mahboubi, Davood Azadbakht, Ramin Amirsasani

Officials – Ali Reza Rezaie, Ali Reza Heidari, Seyed Manaf Hashemi, Hamidreza Haidarian

Journalist – Yadolla Etesami, Mohammedebrahim Gorji, Gholamali Pirirani, Ali Fezasa

U.S.A.

57kg– Angel Escobedo, Columbus, Ohio (New York AC/Ohio RTC)

57kg– Andrew Hochstrasser, Boise, Idaho (Titan Mercury WC)

57kg – Sam Hazewinkel, Norman, Okla. (Sunkist Kids)

61kg–  Reece Humphrey, Columbus, Ohio (New York AC/Ohio RTC)

61kg– Jimmy Kennedy, Ann Arbor, Mich. (New York AC/Michigan RTC)

65kg – Brent Metcalf, Iowa City, Iowa (New York AC/Titan Mercury WC)

65kg– Kellen Russell, Ann Arbor, Mich. (New York AC/Michigan RTC)

65kg – Jason Chamberlain, Lincoln, Neb. (Sunkist Kids/Nebraska RTC)

70kg– Nick Marable, Columbia, Mo. (Sunkist Kids/MWF)

70kg– Moza Fay, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Army WCAP/USOTC)

70kg– Jason Welch, Evanston, Ill. (Wrestling Prep/Chicago RTC)

74kg-  Jordan Burroughs, Lincoln, Neb. (Sunkist Kids/Nebraska RTC)

74kg-  Dan Vallimont, Long Beach, N.Y. (Blue and Gold WC)

86kg– Keith Gavin, Columbus, Ohio (Titan Mercury WC/Ohio RTC)

86kg– Clayton Foster, Laramie, Wyo. (Cowboy WC/GRIT Athletics)

86kg– Raymond Jordan, Atlanta, Ga. (Sunkist Kids)

86kg– Jon Reader, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Sunkist Kids/USOTC)

97kg– J.D. Bergman, Columbus, Ohio (New York AC/Ohio RTC)

97kg– Jake Varner, State College, Pa. (Nittany Lion WC)

97kg – Dustin Kilgore, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Sunkist Kids/USOTC)

97kg – Wynn Michalak, Champaign, Ill. (Titan Mercury WC/Illinois RTC)

125kg – Tervel Dlagnev, Columbus, Ohio (Sunkist Kids/Ohio RTC)

125kg – Tyrell Fortune, Portland, Ore. (Titan Mercury WC)

125kg – Zach Rey, Bethlehem, Pa. (Lehigh Valley AC)

125kg –Dom Bradley, Columbia, Mo. (Sunkist Kids/MWF)

Team Leader – Andy Barth, San Marino, Calif.

National Freestyle Coach – Zeke Jones, Colorado Springs, Colo.

Assistant National Freestyle Coaches – Brandon Slay and Bill Zadick, Colorado Springs, Colo.

World Cup Coaches – Bruce Burnett, Dover, Idaho and Mark Manning, Lincoln, Neb.

Coaches – Andy Hrovat, Ann Arbor, Mich.; Sam Henson, Columbia, Mo.; Sam Portillo, Tucson, Ariz.; Jason Kutz, Colorado Springs, Colo.

Medical – Dr. A.J. Monseau, Morgantown, W.Va.; Dr. Fred Roberto, Atlanta, Ga.; Darryl Miller, Denver, Colo.

USOC Sports Dietician – Jennifer Gibson, Colorado Springs, Colo.

Massage Therapist – Amy Murry

USA Wrestling staff – Les Gutches, Cody Bickley, Dana Leenheer, Jaimie McNab, Colorado Springs, Colo.

India

57kg– Amit Kumar

61kg-Bajrang

65kg– Rajneesh

70kg– Amit Kumar Dhankhar

74kg-  Parveen Rana

86 kg– Pawan Kumar

97kg– Saywart Kadian

125kg– Krishan Kumar

Team Leader – Kuldeep Singh Rana

Coaches – Vinod Kumar, Anil Kumar, Anil Maan

Referee – Satya Dev Malik

Doctor - Dr. Vijay

Masseur: Rahul Sharma

Official - Deva Nand

Armenia

57kg– Artak Hovhannisyan

61kg– Valodya Frangulyan

65kg– Artur Arakelyan

65kg– Artur Baghdasaryan

70kg– Davit Apoyan

74kg-  Valruzhan Kajoyan

86 kg– Vahe Tamrazyan

97kg- Viktor Kazishvili

120kg– Andranik Galstyan

Team Leader – Bazmaser Arakelyan

Coach – Hovsep Hovsepyan

Referee – Ashot Khachatryan

Doctor – Habetnak Kurghinyan

Georgia

57kg– Beka Bujiashvili

57kg– Otari Gogava

61kg. – Akaki Motsonelidze

61kg. – Beka Lomtadze

65kg– Levan Kelekhsashvili

70kg– Giorgi Tsurskiridze

70kg– Zurabi Iakobishvili

74kg-  Giorgi Marsagishvili

86 kg– Nodar Egadze

86 kg– Levan Gogritchiani

97kg – Eldar Kurtanidze

97kg – Beka Tchelidze

125kg– Geno Petriashvili

125kg – Giorgi Sakandelidze

Team Leader – Giorgi Lomidze

Coaches – David Pagosian, Revas Mindorashvili

Referee – Zaza Jibladze

Officials – Khatuna Mikatsadze, Natia Lomidze, Khatuna Sikharulidze, Mukhran Vakhtangadze

Turkey

57kg –  Nebi Uzun

61kg– Recep Topal

65kg– Mustafa Kaya

70kg– Selahattin Kilicsallayan

74kg-  Murat Erturk

86 kg– Fatih Erdin

86 kg – Ahmet Bilici

97kg– Ibrahim Bolukbasi

120kg– Hamza Ozkaradeniz

Team Leader – Hamza Yerlikaya

Coach – Adem Bereket

Referee – Halil Ibrahim Cicioglu

Masseur – Tamer Kisacik

Officials – Mustafa Bahadir

Russia

57kg– Vladimir Flegontov

57kg –Nariman Israpilov

61kg. – Bekhan Goygereev

61kg –Murad Nukhkadiev

65kg – Alibeggadzhi Emeev

65kg – Ilyas Bekbulatov

70kg – Ramazan Shamsutdinov

70kg– Khetik Tsabolov

74kg -  Akhmed Gadzhimagomedov

74kg -  Atsamaz Sanakoev

86 kg – Shamil Kudiamagomedov

86 kg – Anzor Urishev

97kg – Batraz Gazzaev

97kg – Khadjimurat Gatsalov

125kg – Anzor Khizriev

125kg – Arslanbek Aliev

125kg – Muradin Kushkov

Team Leader – Christakis Alexandridis

Coaches – Magomed Guseynov, Artur Bazaev, Khadimurad Magomedov, Magomed Azizov, Mayrbek Yusupov, Malik Tedeev, Vladimir Modosian

Referee – Noravard Arustamian

Doctor – Umar Tebiev

Masseur – Gvinery Bestaev

Officials – Shamil Nevretdinov, Arsen Fadzaev, Vladimir Shekemov

Ukraine

57kg– Sergiey Ratushny

61kg – Vasyl Fedoryshyn

65kg– Ivan Petriv

70kg. – Andrii Nagornyi

74kg. - Giya Chykhladze

86 kg. – Ibragim Aldatov

97kg– Pavlo Oliinyk

120kg – Alen Zaseev

Team Leader – Eduard Nosadchyy

Coaches – Yurii Nazarenko, Vadym Tasoiev

Referee – Oleksandr Yezhov

Mongolia

57kg – Erdenebat Bekhbayar

57kg – Batbold Nomin

61kg – Enkhsaikhan Nyam-Ochir

61kg – Bznzragch Bayanmunkh

65kg  – Ganzorig Mandakhnaran

65kg – Batchuluun Batmagnai

70kg – Gantulga Iderkhuu

70kg – Buyanjav Batzorig

74kg -  Batchullun Ankhbayar

74kg – Dorjvaanchig Gombodorj

86 kg – Orgodol Uitumen

86 kg – Purevjav Unurbat

97kg – Dorjkhand Khuderbulga

97kg – Amar Batmunkh

125kg– Jargalsaikhan Chuluunbat

125kg– Natsagsuren Zolboo

Team Leader – Bayarra Naranbaatar

Coaches – Tserenbaatar Tsogtbayar, Oyunbileg Purevbaatar, Luvsandamba Enkhbayar

Referee – Tserendagva Sereeter

Officials – Dashzeveg Sarnai, Lkhasuren Batbileg

Doctor – Chuluun Nasanbat

Japan

57kg – Fumitaka Morishita

57kg – Yuki Takahashi

61kg – Katsuyoshi Kawase

65kg – Tomotsugu Ishida

70kg – TBA

74kg -  Sohsuke Takatani

86 kg – Atsushi Matsumoto

97kg – Takeshi Yamaguchi

125kg – Nobuyoshi Arakida

Team Leader – Tomohiro Matsunaga

Coach – Kenichi Yumoto

Referee – Masaki Shionohara

Masseur – Atsushi Kawasaki