#Bishkek2018

Kazakhstan Puts Trio into Greco Finals on 2nd Day as Iran Falters Mightily

Wednesday, February 28, 2018 - 11:08 By Ken Marantz

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World silver medalist Demeu ZHADRAYEV led a trio from Kazakhstan into the Greco-Roman finals on the second day of the Asian Championships, while Iran surprisingly struggled and put just one wrestler into the five gold-medal matches slated for the night session.

Zhadrayev, the 2015 Asian bronze medalist, will take on Akzhol MAKHMUDOV (KGZ) in the 72kg final---one of two head-to-head clashes between host Kyrgyzstan and neighbor Kazakhstan, which will surely incite the vocal crowd at Kozhomkul Sports Palace.


In the other, at 82kg, Askhat DILMUKHAMEDOV (KAZ) will take on Atabek AZISBEKOV (KGZ).

The third Kazakh vying for a continental championship will be Almat KEBISPAYEV (KAZ), a silver medalist last year in New Delhi who will take on unheralded Tsuchika SHIMOYAMADA (JPN) at 67kg.

In the morning session, Shimoyamada ousted Paris 2017 world champion RYU Hansu by default in the quarterfinals. Ryu had suffered a deep gash over his eye in his first-round bout, and after falling behind 7-1 to Shimoyamada and with blood continually flowing through his thick bandages, the bout was stopped with :51 left.

That was a rematch of the 67kg final at the Dave Schultz Memorial, which Shimoyamada won 3-2.

Japan, which got a victory from Shota TANOKURA at 55kg on the opening day, will have a chance to sweep the three lightest weights, as Rio 2016 silver medalist Shinobu OTA advanced to the final at 60kg.

Ota, an Asian silver medalist in 2014 and bronze medalist in 2013, will try to finally strike gold when he clashes with teenager RI Se Ung (PRK) in the final.

Since Rio, Ota had lost his place on the national team to Keniichiro FUMITA, who went on to win Asian and world titles. But Ota finally beat Fumita at the Japan nationals in December, earning a ticket to Bishkek.

As is often the case with North Koreans, little is known of Ri, except that he was an Asian cadet champion in 2013 and 2015, and Youth Olympic winner in 2014. He showed few weak spots when he stormed into the final with three consecutive technical falls, without giving up a point.

Ota's path to the final was far less smoother. In the semifinals, he had to battle back from a 4-0 deficit to defeat Shirzad Ali BEHESHTITALA (IRI) 5-4, with the decisive point coming on passivity with :30 left.

"Ota is the type of wrestler who gives up points, but stays calm and under control," said Japan Greco-Roman coach Masatoshi TOYOTA. "He wrestled his way and did what he does best."

Beheshtitala's collapse added salt into the wounds for Iran, which had just one wrestler make the final, with New Delhi 2017 champion Sayedmostafa SALEHIZADEH (IRI) going for the 97kg gold against Rustam ASSAKALOV (UZB).

Behestitala is the only Iranian in the bronze-medal matches, meaning the powerhouse can finish the day with a maximum of two medals after taking two golds and a silver the previous day.

Assakalov, a New Delhi 2017 bronze medalist, got the already fired-up crowd even more excited with his antics during his 2x-2 quarterfinal win over home favorite Uzur DZHUZUPBEKOV (KGZ).

Assakalov had a mini-tantrum that included kicking the bowling pin-like object used for making challenges. Then when he was awarded a second penalty point when his opponent grabbed his singlet late in the match, he was so grateful he moved to kiss the referee (who obviously refused).

Greco-Roman
60kg (11 entries)
Gold - Shinobu OTA (JPN) v RI Se Ung (PRK)

Bronze –  Kanybek ZHOLCHUBEKOV (KGZ) v Shirzad Ali BEHESHTITALA (IRI)
Bronze – LIN Yu Hung (TPE) v Islomjon BAKHRAMOV (UZB)

Semifinal – Shinobu OTA (JPN) df. Shirzad Ali BEHESHTITALA (IRI), 5-4
Semifinal – RI Se Ung (PRK) df. Islomjon BAKHRAMOV (UZB) by TF, 8-0, 4:35

67kg (12 entries)
Gold - Almat KEBISPAYEV (KAZ) v Tsuchika SHIMOYAMADA (JPN)

Bronze –  Mirzobek RAKHMATOV (UZB) v Manish MANISH (IND)
Bronze – Seydylla TAZAYEV (TKM) v ZHANG Gaoquan (CHN)

Semifinal – Almat KEBISPAYEV (KAZ) df. Manish MANISH (IND) by TF, 10-1, 2:33
Semifinal – Tsuchika SHIMOYAMADA (JPN) df. ZHANG Gaoquan (CHN), 6-5

72kg (12 entries)
Gold - Demeu ZHADRAYEV (KAZ) v Akzhol MAKHMUDOV (KGZ)

Bronze –  Aram VARDANYAN (UZB) v JIANG Yuan (CHN)
Bronze – Kuldeep MALIK (IND) v Tomohiro INOUE (JPN)

Semifinal – Demeu ZHADRAYEV (KAZ) df. JIANG Yuan (CHN) by TF, 8-0, 3:34
Semifinal – Akzhol MAKHMUDOV (KGZ) df. Tomohiro INOUE (JPN), 7-0

82kg (10 entries)
Gold - Askhat DILMUKHAMEDOV (KAZ) v Atabek AZISBEKOV (KGZ)

Bronze –  Yuya MAETA (JPN) v KIM Jinhyeok (KOR)
Bronze – Nurbek KHASHIMBEKOV (UZB) v Singh HARPEET (IND)

Semifinal – Askhat DILMUKHAMEDOV (KAZ) df. KIM Jinhyeok (KOR), 10-5
Semifinal – Atabek AZISBEKOV (KGZ) df. Singh HARPEET (IND), 5-0

97kg (10 entries)
Gold - Sayedmostafa SALEHIZADEH (IRI) v Rustam ASSAKALOV (UZB)

Bronze –  Ali Majeed AL KAABI (IRQ) v Yerulan ISKAKOV (KAZ)
Bronze – Uzur DZHUZUPBEKOV (KGZ) v GU Hakbon (KOR)

Semifinal – Sayedmostafa SALEHIZADEH (IRI) df. Yerulan ISKAKOV (KAZ), 5-0
Semifinal – Rustam ASSAKALOV (UZB) df. GU Hakbon (KOR) by TF, 8-0, 5:22

#WrestleSamokov

Kyrgyzstan, Moldova earn chance to end U20 World title drought

Sunday, August 17, 2025 - 18:58 By Vinay Siwach

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SAMOKOV, Bulgaria (August 17) -- Kyrgyzstan and Moldova earned a chance to end their gold-medal drought at the U20 World Championships.

On the first day of the 2025 World U20 Championships in Samokov, four Freestyle weight classes were in action. Adilet AKYLBEKOV (KGZ) was the surprised finalist at 74kg and will try to become Kyrgyzstan's first gold medal at the U20 World Championships in 20 years. He will take on European U23 champion Ismail KHANIEV (UWW) in the final.

At 70kg, Alexandr GAIDARLI (MDA) earned the final and will now try to become Moldova's first U20 world champ in Freestyle since 1999. He will take on returning bronze medalist PJ DUKE (USA) in the gold-medal bout.

The 125kg weight class will see an all-Asian final as Asian U20 champion Yedige KASSIMBEK (KAZ) earned a shot for the world title against Abolfazl MOHAMMAD NEZHAD (IRI), a wrestler over whom Kassimbek has a 3-0 head-to-head record.

Two returning bronze medalists, Duke and Justin RADEMACHER (USA), upgrade their bronze medals from last year and earn themselves a chance to win gold on Monday at 70kg and 97kg respectively.

Akylbekov, who had finished at 17th at 79kg last year, had a dream run on Sunday and ended one for Raul CASO (ITA) in the semifinals. Caso had posted two last-second victories, however, he failed to repeat those heroics in the semifinal against Akylbekov.

Caso was 3-2 and went attack-mode in the final 15 seconds. He almost scored a takedown over Akylbekov who managed to sneak out and then Caso jumped over to take control for a takedown. However, the Kyrgyz wrestler stood up to avoid giving up any points. Italy challenged for two points but lost that on review, giving one more point to Akylbekov.

While Caso was leaving it late in his wins, Akylbekov was contrastingly dominating them. He defeated Nicholas HOOPER (CAN), 12-0, in the opening bout, blanked Titas PIJORAITIS (LTU), 10-0 and then handed Dosszhan KUL GAIYP (KAZ) a 6-1 loss.

Ismail KHANIEV (UWW)Ismail KHANIEV (UWW) defeated Kanata YAMAGUCHI (JPN), 7-3, in the semifinal. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Amirreza Aliasgari)

He will now face Khaniev, who earned himself his first world medal at any level. Khaniev defeated Kanata YAMAGUCHI (JPN), 7-3, in a very close semifinal than the scoreline suggests.

Khaniev led 3-3 on criteria but Yamaguchi constantly threatened to score in the final 25 seconds. He hit a double-leg attack and planted Khaniev, who somehow managed to not land in danger. In a counter, Khaniev exposed Yamaguchi for two points and took a 5-3 lead. Yamaguchi tried a desperate throw in the final 15 seconds but Khaniev blocked it for two more points to win.

Earlier in the day, Khaniev avenged his European U20 Championships loss to Manuel WAGIN (GER) with a technical superiority win after he had beaten returning silver medalist Ladrion LOCKETT (USA).

Duke had his first big challenge of the day in the semifinals against former world U17 champion Erfan ELAHI (IRI) at 70kg. Duke scored a takedown while Elahi had a point for stepout and Duke's passivity. Duke's two-point scoring move gave him the criteria.

However, Elahi somehow thought he has the criteria and did not think of attacking in the final 30 seconds. When the bout was over, Elahi celebrated as if he had won only to realize that he has lost 2-2.

Duke will look to win his first a world title before wrestling at the senior World Championships later in September. He will take on Gaidarli for the gold-medal after the Moldovan won his semifinal 7-4 against Nurlan AGHAZADA (AZE).

Alexandr GAIDARLI (MDA)Alexandr GAIDARLI (MDA) reached the 70kg final in Samokov. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kadir Caliskan)

Gaidarli became the first Moldovan Freestyle wrestler to reach the final at U20 Worlds since 2019 after a stunningly good run in Samokov. He defeated European U20 champion Goga OTINASHVILI (GEO), 13-3, avenging his loss from Carole, Italy.

In the semifinals, he scored three takedowns in the second period against Aghazada to win 7-4, bettering his 18th-place finish from last year and earning a chance to end the gold-medal drought for Moldova.

Returning bronze medalist at 97kg Rademacher defeated European U20 champion Konstantine PETRIASHVILI (GEO) in the semifinals and will now try to win gold. Rademacher led 4-3 at the break extended his lead with a takedown for two points to start the second period, add another go-behind and single-leg to takedown to lead 10-3.

Petriashvili got an attack for two points but Rademacher was relentless in his wrestling and scored three more takedowns to win 16-5.

Magomedgadzhi MAGOMEDOV (UWW)Magomedgadzhi MAGOMEDOV (UWW) survived to win 11-9 against VISHAL (IND) in the 97kg semifinal. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Amirreza Aliasgari)

For the gold medal, he will face Magomedgadzhi MAGOMEDOV (UWW) who survived, with some help, for an 11-9 win over VISHAL (IND) who had Magomedov in all sorts of trouble. Magomedov led 10-4 when Vishal mounted a comeback against an absolutely broken Magomedov. He scored a takedown and Magomedov was cautioned for a singlet-pull foul which made it 10-7.

As the bout was restart in par terre, India challenged for two more points but the referee had blown the whistle before control from Vishal. That challenge gave enough breathing time to Magomedov to managed to hang on to his lead and win 11-9.

Yedige KASSIMBEK (KAZ)Yedige KASSIMBEK (KAZ) celebrates after winning his 125kg semifinal against Cole MIRASOLA (USA). (Photo: United World Wrestling / Amirreza Aliasgari)

Kassimbek had a very dominant semifinal as he defeated Cole MIRASOLA (USA), 11-0, inside the first period. He had two excellent counter takedowns and then locked up Mirasola's legs around his head and turns him twice. He finished things with a double-leg takedown.

Kassimbek has lost to two World U17 Championships finals before but he will have a good chance to win his first world title. He will take on Mohammad Nezhad, a wrestler he has defeated three times before.

The Iranian denied former world U17 champion Yusif DURSUNOV (AZE) after a 1-1 victory in the semifinal. Mohmmad Nezhad got the one point for passivity in the second period which gave him the criteria.

Mohammad Nezhad lost to Kassimbek for the first time in 2023 Asian U17 Championships final, 8-1, then at the same tournament in 2024, 2-2 in the semifinals. His third loss to Kassimbek came in the semifinals of the 2024 World U17 Championships, 4-3.

RESULTS

70kg
GOLD: PJ DUKE (USA) vs. Alexandr GAIDARLI (MDA) 

SF 1: Alexandr GAIDARLI (MDA) df. Nurlan AGHAZADA (AZE), 7-4
SF 2: PJ DUKE (USA) df. Ebrahim ELAHI (IRI), 2-2

74kg
GOLD: Ismail KHANIEV (UWW) vs. Adilet AKYLBEKOV (KGZ)

SF 1: Adilet AKYLBEKOV (KGZ) df. Raul CASO (ITA), 4-2
SF 2: Ismail KHANIEV (UWW) df. Kanata YAMAGUCHI (JPN), 7-3

97kg
GOLD: Magomedgadzhi MAGOMEDOV (UWW) vs. Justin RADEMACHER (USA)

SF 1: Justin RADEMACHER (USA) df. Konstantine PETRIASHVILI (GEO), 16-5
SF 2: Magomedgadzhi MAGOMEDOV (UWW) df. VISHAL (IND), 11-9

125kg
GOLD: Yedige KASSIMBEK (KAZ) vs. Abolfazl MOHAMMAD NEZHAD (IRI)

SF 1: Abolfazl MOHAMMAD NEZHAD (IRI) df. Yusif DURSUNOV (AZE), 1-1
SF 2: Yedige KASSIMBEK (KAZ) df. Cole MIRASOLA (USA), 11-0