Wrestler of the Year

“Best Wrestler of the Year” Awarded to Taylor, Olli, and Bacsi

Tuesday, January 1, 2019 - 16:58 By United World Wrestling Press

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CORSIER-SUR-VEVEY, Switzerland (January 1) – With the 2018 wrestling season officially at a close, United World Wrestling has awarded “Best Wrestler of the Year” honors to David TAYLOR (USA) in freestyle, Petra OLLI (FIN) in women’s wrestling, and Peter BACSI (HUN) in Greco-Roman.

The award was based on the number of ranking points each of the wrestlers attained over the course of the 2018 season. A majority of points were earned at the world and continental championships, with additional points earned at a number of style-specific Ranking Series tournaments around the world.

For their efforts, Taylor, Olli and Bacsi each received a 10,000 CHF prize from United World Wrestling.

Taylor, the 86kg world champion in freestyle finished the season with 112 total ranking points. In addition to his world title Taylor took gold at 2018 Senior Pan-American championships, the Ivan Yariguin (Ranking Event), and the Yasar Dogu (Ranking Event). Taylor didn’t lose a match all season.

“I’m really grateful for the opportunity to compete for the USA and represent the Nittany Lion Wrestling Club,” said Taylor. “I wouldn’t have been able to reach this point without my coaches, training partners, and the treigning lab. I’m honored to be the wrestler of the year and look forward to 2019!


Olli, the 62kg world champion in women’s wrestling finished the season with 110 points. The first-ever Finnish world champion in women’s wrestling, Olli also took gold at the 2018 Senior European championships and the Klippan Ladies Open (Ranking Event), as well as a silver at the Ziolkowski/Pytlasinski/Poland Open (Ranking Event).

"I am very grateful and surprised to get such a great honor of recognition,” said Olli. “Wrestlers of the Year is a recognition means a lot of our team who works with me every day, but also for all of the Finland wrestling family.”


Bacsi, the 82kg world champion in Greco-Roman finished the season with 82 ranking points. In addition to his world title, the Hungarian wrestler also the gold medalist at the Granma y Cerro Pelado (Ranking Event) and silver at the Hungarian Grand Prix (Ranking Event).

At 35 years old, Bacsi was also this year’s oldest world champion in any wrestling style.


The 2019 United World Wrestling season will start on January 24th at the Ivan Yariguin Grand Prix in Krasnoyarsk, Russia with Ranking Series points up for grabs in freestyle and women’s wrestling.

#WrestleSamokov

New challenges fail to stop Yakushenko as he defends gold

Sunday, August 24, 2025 - 08:28 By Vinay Siwach

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SAMOKOV, Bulgaria (August 23) -- When Yehor YAKUSHENKO (UKR) reached the final of the World U20 Championships in Samokov, he was aware that he will be facing a new challenge in Hadi SEYDI AVENDI (IRI), the other finalist.

In his career, Yakushenko had never wrestled an Iranian wrestler. With the pedigree of Iran in Greco-Roman especially in age-group competition, Yakushenko knew that Seydi will be a tough opponent.

With his U20 world title on line, Yakushenko planned his final against Seydi to perfection to beat the Iranian 5-2 and capture his second straight gold medal at the World U20 Championships. He became the first Ukrainian wrestler to win two gold medals in Greco-Roman at this age-group Worlds.

Yehor YAKUSHENKO (UKR)Yehor YAKUSHENKO (UKR) celebrates after becoming the world U20 champion for the second time. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kadir Caliskan)

Yakushenko had the first par terre position and he lifted Seydi and then completed a correct throw for two points and lead 3-0. Seydi managed to close out the first period with a stepout and cut the lead to 3-1.

Seydi had his chance to score in the second period from par terre but Yakushenko was solid in his defense and did not give up any points. Seydi tried a few attacks in the final second but there was no score. Yakushenko got two more points for a go-behind in the final second to win 5-2.

Among the medalist at 97kg was Ilia KOMAROV (UWW), younger brother of European 87kg champion Aleksandr KOMAROV (SRB). Ilia defeated Andrej RODIN (CRO), 8-0, in the bronze medalist.

Zhantoro MIRZALIEV (KGZ)Zhantoro MIRZALIEV (KGZ) celebrates after beating Erzu ZAKRIEV (UWW) in the 67kg final. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Amirreza Aliasgari)

Another returning champion was not as fortunate and Erzu ZAKRIEV (UWW) dropped his 67kg final to 2023 World U20 silver medalist Zhantoro MIRZALIEV (KGZ), 4-2, and finish with a silver medal.

Zakriev was hurt from the two stepouts Mirzaliev scored on him when was in the dominant position but the Kyrgyz wrestler switched the position and pushed Zakriev out.

The first such incident came in the second minute when Zakriev tried to push Mirzaliev towards the zone the Kyrgyz wrestler spun an arm-throw and managed to force a stepout for a 1-0 lead. Zakriev got one for himself to take make it 1-1 but Mirzaliev had the criteria according to the new Greco rule that when the score is 1-1 in bout, the first scorer will have criteria.

But Zakriev quickly made it 2-1. That's when the second instance of Mirzaliev getting a stepout when Zakriev was aggressive occurred. Zakriev had Mirzaliev in the zone when the latter hit the arm-throw but Zakriev kept his balance. He stepped out and conceded a point to Mirzaliev who now led 2-2 on criteria at the break.

The second period also began in this manger when Zakriev almost made Mirzaliev stepout but the Kyrgyz survived and circled inside. He then pushed Zakriev out and get a 3-2 lead. There no more points scored in the bout but Zakriev challenged at the end asking for passivity from Mirzaliev which was denied and he lost another point to lose 4-2.

The result is in contrast to the 10-0 win Zakriev scored on Mirzaliev just a month ago in Turkiye.

Payam AHMADI (IRI)Payam AHMADI (IRI) scores a takedown against Turan DASHDAMIROV (AZE) in the 55kg final. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Amirreza Aliasgari)

Payam AHMADI (IRI) won the first gold medal for Iran at this World Championships when he defeated former world U17 champion Turan DASHDAMIROV (AZE), 5-3, in the 55kg.

In one of most thrilling finals, Ahmadi needed an acrobatic summersault to not give up points to Dashdamirov in the final minute and defend his lead for the win.

Dashdamirov got the par terre position first but Ahmadi escaped with ease and without any trouble. Soon, Ahmadi scored a takedown and turned the Azerbaijani wrestler using a high gut-wrench for a 4-1 lead.

The second period saw Ahmadi on the aggressive and he tried a bodylock but Dashdamirov blocked it with an overarm and flipped Ahmadi for two points. Ahmadi now led 4-3 and Dashdamirov needed two points for a win with 2:40 remaining.

Turan DASHDAMIROV (AZE)Turan DASHDAMIROV (AZE) hits a fireman carry for no points against Payam AHMADI (IRI) during the 55kg final. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kadir Caliskan)

Dashdamirov failed to find an opening until the last 15 seconds when he did a fireman carry but Ahmadi landed on his feet. Dashdamirov was awarded two points but Iran challenged and the points were removed as there was no danger position. With 4-3 score, Ahmadi defended for the last 7 seconds remaining and won the gold medal.

After drawing a blank in Ponteverdra, Spain last year, Armenia crowned a world U20 champion in Greco-Roman Gaspar TERTERYAN (ARM) defeated Ahmad KODIROV (UZB), 1-1, in the 72kg final and win the gold medal.

RESULTS

55kg
GOLD: Payam AHMADI (IRI) df. Turan DASHDAMIROV (AZE), 5-3

BRONZE: Omur YNTYMAK UULU (KGZ) vs. Arsen ZHUMA (KAZ)
BRONZE: Anil MOR (IND) vs. Daisuke MORISHITA (JPN)

67kg
GOLD: Zhantoro MIRZALIEV (KGZ) df. Erzu ZAKRIEV (UWW), 4-2

BRONZE: Fayozbek ESHMIRZAEV (UZB) df. Gholamreza ABDOVALI (IRI), 5-1
BRONZE: Faraim MUSTAFAYEV (AZE) df. Takaku SUZUKI (JPN), 5-4

72kg
GOLD: Gaspar TERTERYAN (ARM) df. Ahmad KODIROV (UZB), 1-1

BRONZE: Oliver PADA (FIN) df. Arvid STRAAKEVED (SWE), 14-5
BRONZE: Yussuf ASHRAPOV (KAZ) df. Arionas KOLITSOPOULOS (GRE), 2-0

97kg
GOLD: Yehor YAKUSHENKO (UKR) df. Hadi SEYDI AVENDI (IRI), 5-2

BRONZE: Darius KIEFER (GER) df. Amirkhon BERDIKULOV (UZB), 8-0
BRONZE: Ilia KOMAROV (UWW) df. Andrej RODIN (CRO), 8-0

Semifinals

 

63kg
GOLD: Aleks MARGARYAN (ARM) vs. AYTJAN KHALMAKHANOV (UZB)

SF 1: Aleks MARGARYAN (ARM) df. Kristiyan MILENKOV (BUL), 9-0
SF 2: AYTJAN KHALMAKHANOV (UZB) df. Damir IBRASHOV (KAZ), 8-0

77kg
GOLD: Ahoura BOUVEIRI (IRI) vs. Anri PUTKARADZE (GEO)

SF 1: Ahoura BOUVEIRI (IRI) df. Zaur BESLEKOEV (UWW), 8-0
SF 2: Anri PUTKARADZE (GEO) df. Kiryl VALEUSKI (UWW), 5-4

87kg
GOLD: Luka KOCHALIDZE (GEO) vs. Abdurakhman ABDULKADYROV (UWW)

SF 1: Luka KOCHALIDZE (GEO) df. Elias LYYSKI (FIN), 6-0
SF 2: Abdurakhman ABDULKADYROV (UWW) df. Temirlan TURDAKYN (KAZ), 8-0

130kg
GOLD: Yusuf BAKIR (TUR) vs. Ali ILIASOV (UWW)

SF 1: Yusuf BAKIR (TUR) df. Ivan YANKOVSKYI (UKR), 8-0
SF 2: Ali ILIASOV (UWW) df. Abolfazl FATHITAZANGI (IRI), 5-4