#WrestleBucharest

Ahmadiyev stuns Szoke as Azerbaijan wins 3 golds at U23 Euros

Wednesday, March 15, 2023 - 19:25 By Vinay Siwach

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BUCHAREST, Romania (March 15) -- Led by U23 world champion Gurban GURBANOV (AZE), Azerbaijan won three gold medals on Wednesday at the U23 European Championships.

As the Greco-Roman competition drew to a close, Azerbaijan crowned champions in Gurbanov, Elmir ALIYEV (AZE) and Murad AHMADIYEV (AZE) at 72kg, 60kg and 97kg.

While the three gold medals were not enough for Azerbaijan to claim the team title, they helped it jump to a fourth-place finish behind Turkiye, Ukraine and Georgia.

In a nail-biting team race, Turkiye claimed the team title with 127 points, Ukraine finished second with 126 points and Georgia was third with 125 points. Azerbaijan ended with 123 points.

While Gurbanov and Aliyev were cautious in their wins, it was Ahmadiyev who stunned everyone with a victory via fall over world silver medalist and U23 world champion Alex SZOKE (HUN) in the final.

A stunned Szoke argued with the officials and even tried to challenge the call but to no avail as the pin was called by the referees.

Ahmadiyev was called for passivity in the first period and when Szoke was trying to score a gut wrench, both wrestlers went up on their feet with Szoke still holding Ahmadiyev in a bodylock.

At this point, Ahmadiyev threw his arm around Szoke's head and brought him down with his back on the mat and held him there. The referee was about to call for a pin when Szoke jumped out of the hold.

However, the referee delegation intervened and announced that the pin was already called by the referees and it will stand, giving Ahmadiyev a stunning victory and his first major medal at any competition.

Szoke was agitated over the decision but was cooled down by his coach and Olympic champion Viktor LORINCZ (HUN).

Gurban GURBANOV (AZE)Gurban GURBANOV (AZE) won the 72kg gold medal in Bucharest. (Photo: UWW / Kadir Caliskan)

At 72kg, Gurbanov followed his U20 and U23 world titles with gold in Bucharest after a solid display of defense over the two days. In the semifinal, he defeated defending champion Girogi CHKHIKVADZE (GEO) 1-1 after the two wrestlers exchanged passivities.

In the final, he faced Irfan MIRZOIEV (UKR), an opponent he defeated 7-1 in the semifinal of U23 Worlds. Mirzoiev used different tactics but the result remained the same. Gurbanov claimed an 8-0 win over the Ukrainian.

Gurbanov, who scored an early stepout, ran to a 6-0 lead at the break after getting the par terre position. He scored two turns from that. In the second period, Mirzoiev never came close to troubling Gurbanov who scored a takedown with just under two minutes remaining in the final.

Elmir ALIYEV (AZE)Elmir ALIYEV (AZE) scored a 5-3 win over Melkamu FETENE (ISR) to win the 60kg gold medal. (Photo: UWW / Kadir Caliskan)

At 60kg, Elmir ALIYEV (AZE) denied Melkamu FETENE (ISR) a historic gold medal as the Azerbaijan youngster defeated Fetene 5-3 in the 60kg final.

Fetene was hoping to become the first wrestler from Israel to become a European champion since Stepan DUBOV (ISR) won the 2001 U17 European title.

The U23 World bronze medalist did have his chances in the final when he led 1-0 after the break and later managed to score two points on Aliyev. But Aliyev scored a stepout, a point for passivity and snapped Fetene for a takedown.

Fetene used a toss in the same sequence but challenged the call, asking for four. He lost the challenge and gave up another point which gave Aliyev a 5-3 win.

Jonni SARKKINEN (FIN)Jonni SARKKINEN (FIN) defeated U23 world champion Exauce MUKUBU (NOR) 6-0 in the 82kg final. (Photo: UWW / Kadir Caliskan)

Finland wins second gold

Exauce MUKUBU (NOR) could have been another U23 world champ to win gold but he suffered a shocking 6-0 loss to Jonni SARKKINEN (FIN) in the 82kg final.

Sarkkinen joined teammate Tino OJALA (FIN) as Finland's gold medalist at the event as the country which had only one U23 European champion so far added two more in two days.

The U20 European silver medalist Sarkkinen used his counter-attacking style to frustrate Mukubu and scored points when Mukubu thought he had the momentum.

After locking Sarkkinen's arms twice, Mukubu tried forcing a stepout but Sarkkinen had cleverly forced Mukubu to step out first, a point he won after a challenge.

In a similar move, Sarkkinen unleashed an arm throw when Mukubu was about to push him out of bounds. That got him four points and a surprise for Mukubu.

It was always difficult to come back from 5-0 down and then Mukubu conceded another stepout to make things even worse for himself. Sarkkinen managed to stay calm and defend against all other attacks and claim the gold.

Diego CHKHIKVADZE (GEO)Diego CHKHIKVADZE (GEO) defend his U23 European title in Bucharest. (Photo: UWW / Kadir Caliskan)

At 67kg, defending champion Diego CHKHIKVADZE (GEO) went back-to-back after beating Mustafa YILDIRIM (TUR) in a tight gold medal bout.

Chkhikvadze has continued to impress since winning the U20 European title in 2021. He has added a U20 world silver medal, U23 European gold and U23 world bronze since then.

In the final against Yildirim, Chkhikvadze had to work harder than in his previous bouts as he managed to win 2-1. Both wrestlers got a passivity each but Chkhikvadze got a stepout late in the bout which was the difference between the two and the gold medal.

On Tuesday, Chkhikvadze did not give up a single point in three bouts, winning 7-0 against Shon NADORGIN (ISR), 9-0 against Maksym LIU (UKR) and 11-0 against Ashot KHACHATRYAN (ARM).

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RESULTS

60kg
GOLD: Elmir ALIYEV (AZE) df. Melkamu FETENE (ISR), 5-3

BRONZE: Mert ILBARS (TUR) df. Dimitri KHACHIDZE (GEO), 10-0
BRONZE: Vladyslav KUZKO (UKR) df. Georgios SCARPELLO (GER), 7-1

67kg
GOLD: Diego CHKHIKVADZE (GEO) df. Mustafa YILDIRIM (TUR), 2-1

BRONZE: Ivo ILIEV (BUL) df. Hasan MAMMADLI (AZE), 10-8
BRONZE: Shon NADORGIN (ISR) df. Ashot KHACHATRYAN (ARM), 5-5

72kg
GOLD: Gurban GURBANOV (AZE) df. Irfan MIRZOIEV (UKR), 8-0

BRONZE: Giorgi CHKHIKVADZE (GEO) df. Igor BOTEZ (ROU), 7-0
BRONZE: Abdullah TOPRAK (TUR) df. Krisztofer KLANYI (HUN), 5-0

82kg
GOLD: Jonni SARKKINEN (FIN) df. Exauce MUKUBU (NOR), 6-0

BRONZE: Adam GARDZIOLA (POL) df. Ilias PAGKALIDIS (GRE), 2-2
BRONZE: Saba MAMALADZE (GEO) df. Branko KOVACEVIC (SRB), 5-1

97kg
GOLD: Murad AHMADIYEV (AZE) df. Alex SZOKE (HUN), via fall

BRONZE: Lucas LAZOGIANIS (GER) df. Oleksandr YEVDOKIMOV (UKR), 5-0 
BRONZE: Hayk KHLOYAN (ARM) df. Mindaugas VENCKAITIS (LTU), 6-0

#WrestleTirana

Jamalov loss, historic Olympic medal for Albania, defensive style: Valiev opens up to UWW

Monday, October 21, 2024 - 17:06 By Vinay Siwach

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TIRANA, Albania (October 21) -- Cherman VALIEV (ALB) sits in the 'VIP Lounge' of the Feti Borova Sports Hall in Tirana on the sidelines of the U23 World Championships. He certainly is a very important person in Albania. At the Paris Olympics in August, Valiev won the bronze medal in the 74kg weight class, becoming Albania's first-ever Olympic medalist in any sport.

Two months later, he has had time to reflect on his Paris Olympic campaign, the controversial loss against Razambek JAMALOV (UZB), and is preparing for the new season, in which he wants to avenge that loss against Jamalov.

United World Wrestling caught up with Valiev on the sidelines of the U23 World Championships. Excerpts from the interview:

Chermen VALIEV (ALB)

- Reflecting on his bronze medal at the Paris Olympics

Valiev: It’s a dream for every athlete to compete at the Olympic Games. As for me, I was able to win a medal. It’s a historic medal for Albania, the first one ever in any sport. It’s a great honor for me that I was able to live up to their expectations. When I joined the national team, they believed in me. I am glad that I could meet their expectations.

I was given an apartment in Albania for winning the Olympic bronze. I am very grateful that they value the athlete’s hard work. I was given prize money as well. Sometimes people on the streets in Albania would come over and ask for a photo. It’s really nice and it motivates me to continue giving my all to show the best results. 

I realize that I’ve won a medal at the Olympic Games. This motivates me to keep working even harder. Time flies quickly, and before you know it, the next Olympic Games will be here.

Chermen VALIEV (ALB)

- Experience at the Paris Olympics

Valiev: I think I gave my all in those two days and did everything I could. I wrestled with all my strength and did my best on the mat. As I said before, I had four matches in Paris, and I won all four of them. To this day, I have been reviewing the matches and I believe that I won without any doubts. If there was any other wrestler in my position he would defend when leading the match. I wasn’t fleeing the mat, I was just defending and this is within the rules.

[In the bronze medal bout], I was emotionally motivated to avenge that loss in Istanbul [at the World Olympic Qualifier]. It was crucial for me at that time to prove that I was better than him, and I was very determined and focused on that match. So, I convincingly defeated Viktor with a score of 6-2 in Paris.

Chermen VALIEV (ALB)

- On his return to Ossetia after Paris Olympics

Valiev: I was welcomed very well in Ossetia as if I was an Olympic champion. I received a lot of support, people were saying that I was their Olympic champion. Even many people not from Ossetia, but from other regions were saying that they saw everything and that I was an Olympic champion for them. It’s very pleasing for me to be appreciated that way.

- On his wrestling style

Valiev: I am not going to change anything in my style. If you don't defend in wrestling, you will give up points. I defend and attack at the same time, scoring points. After all, I win matches somehow. If I didn’t attack, the referees wouldn’t give me points. As I said before, I will try to take the lead in order to avoid such situations in the future. I haven’t really noticed anyone saying that I have a passive wrestling style. I don’t know how to explain it, but as soon as I feel the referee is about to give a passivity point, I always try to change the course of the match. 

I don’t usually prepare for any specific wrestler. I just do my job. I have a plan in my head, I watch their matches, and I know their strengths and weaknesses. For example, if I know he has a signature move, I try not to get caught for that. Sitting and watching the matches of my opponents all day long isn't something I do.

Chermen VALIEV (ALB)

- On growing up with wrestling

Valiev: Wrestling is the number one sport in Ossetia. In my hometown Ardon, there was just wrestling and football. My elder brother started wrestling first. All our family is into it. My father used to wrestle as well. There are three kids in the family. My brother, sister and myself. I started wrestling when I was eight years old. My dad was wrestling only when he was at school, but my elder brother still trains, he sometimes competes at the local tournaments and finishes on the podium. So there was no choice. I liked playing football as well, but up until now, I do freestyle wrestling. When I was wrestling at the cadet level, I started showing some good results, I started going here and there to the training camps and competitions. I really loved that atmosphere of traveling to different places and meeting new people. So, I couldn’t give it up.

When I was a kid, the coaches were telling me that I was talented and that I had to train hard, but it wasn’t something like being a wonder kid or someone very special.

- On his idol Kudukhov

Valiev: I always wanted to be like Besik KUDUKHOV. I always tried to copy his wrestling style, his moves and his throws. He was super-fast and I really copied him, but only when I was a child. Over time I’ve got my own style and technique. It’s difficult to be as fast as he was. I got the chance to train with Besik only once. It was two days before he died. Up until now, people keep saying that he was a very well-mannered, decent man. He was not just a good wrestler, but also a very kind person. 

- On his return to competition next year

Valiev: My next tournament will be a Ranking Series here in Albania. When I step on the mat, the number one priority for me is to win the match. Of course, the Olympic medal gives me more confidence and status, but the medal won’t wrestle for me. So, I have to do my best to win the match.  

I have learned a little bit of the Albanian language, I really want to improve on that. But I need to start with English first.

(Translation by Karina Mirzoian)