#Zagreb2018

Five Continental Champions Highlight Cadet World Semifinals

By Taylor Miller

ZAGREB, Croatia – The semifinals for the second set of men’s freestyle weights have been determined at the 2018 Cadet World Championships, which feature five 2018 Cadet continental champions.

Included in that group are Rahman AMOUZADKHALILI (IRI) at 45 kg, Adem UZUN (TUR) at 51 kg, Hamza ALACA (TUR) at 60 kg, Bagrati GAGNIDZE (GEO) at 71 kg and Ali Reza ABDOLLAHI (IRI) at 92 kg.

Amouzadkhalili, who won the 2018 Cadet Asian Championships, will wrestle Ahmet YUCEL (TUR), while the other semi at 48 kg will feature Rafayel HARUTYUNYAN (ARM) and Chance LAMER (USA).

Cadet European champion Uzun, who finished fifth at the 2016 Cadet Worlds in Greco and fifth at the 2017 Cadet Worlds in freestyle, will wrestle Kota TAKAHASHI (JPN) in the 51 kg semis.

On the other side of the bracket Matthew RAMOS (USA) and Seyedfran JAFARIANGELYERD (IRI) will go head-to-head.

Three-time Cadet European medalist and 2018 Cadet European champion Alaca will face off against Shamil MAMEDOV (RUS) at 60 kg tonight.

Cadet World veteran Georgios KOUGIOUMTSIDIS (GRE), who is making his third appearance to the World Championships, has already guaranteed his best finish at the event, heading to the 60 kg semis. He will face Sabir JAFAROV (AZE).

This year’s Cadet Asian champion Bagrati GAGNIDZE (GEO) headlines the 71 kg semifinals and will go up against Dominik MEZEI (HUN), while the other match pits Alex FACUNDO (USA) against Baliyan GOURAV (IND).

At 92 kg, there are three continental medalists. Leading the way is Cadet Asian champion Abdollahi. In the semis, he will take on Johannes MAYER (GER), who was the silver-medal winner at the 2018 Cadet European Championships.

Last year’s Cadet Euro silver medalist Omer AGTAS (TUR) advanced to the semifinals and will face Giorgi CHANKSELIANI (GEO) for a bid to the finals.

The semifinals for the above five weights will be contested at 5:30 p.m. local time (11:30 a.m. ET), followed by the finals at 48 kg, 55 kg, 65 kg, 80 kg and 110 kg live on unitedworldwrestling.com.

Semifinal pairings
48 kg
Ahmet YUCEL (TUR) vs. Rahman AMOUZADKHALILI (IRI)
Rafayel HARUTYUNYAN (ARM) vs. Chance LAMER (USA)

51 kg
Matthew RAMOS (USA) vs.
Seyedfran JAFARIANGELYERD (IRI)
Adem UZUN (TUR) vs. Kota TAKAHASHI (JPN)

60 kg
Sabir JAFAROV (AZE) vs. Georgios KOUGIOUMTSIDIS (GRE)
Shamil MAMEDOV (RUS) vs. Hamza ALACA (TUR)

71 kg
Bagrati GAGNIDZE (GEO) vs. Dominik MEZEI (HUN)
Alex FACUNDO (USA) vs. Baliyan GOURAV (IND)

92 kg
Omer AGTAS (TUR) vs. Giorgi CHANKSELIANI (GEO)
Johannes MAYER (GER) vs. Ali Reza ABDOLLAHI (IRI)

 

United World Wrestling Statement on Iranian Wrestlers

By United World Wrestling Press

CORSIER-SUR-VEVEY, Switzerland (February 27) -- United World Wrestling recognizes that global conflicts and political tensions deeply impact sport, and wrestling in particular. While UWW’s ability to directly influence national or international affairs is limited, the organization remains firmly committed to supporting wrestlers and advocating for their protection wherever possible, including through sport diplomacy and engagement with the broader wrestling and Olympic community.

UWW has activated its contacts within the sports movement following the recent events in Iran. The organization has received reports from various sources, though their full accuracy is difficult to verify.

Reports suggest that some situations may have been resolved in the meantime, but wrestler Saleh Mohammadi remains at risk of a capital sentence in Iran. UWW calls for a fair, transparent, and impartial trial, conducted in full respect of fundamental rights, and reaffirms its opposition to the death penalty in all circumstances.

United World Wrestling continues to closely monitor the situation while mourning all the victims affected by this tragedy.