#WrestleBelgrade

Maskevich Stuns Chakvetadze, Russia Bags 3 Gold Medals

By Andrew Hipps

Links:
Day 2 Photos
Interview with Davor STEFANEK (SRB)

BELGRADE, Serbia (December 13) -- Russia made a strong statement Sunday at the Individual World Cup, winning three of the first five gold medals, but it was a young star from Belarus who stole the show in the final match of the night in Belgrade, Serbia.

After Russia started the night 3-for-3 in Sunday's Greco-Roman finals, Kiryl MASKEVICH (BLR), a decided underdog, stepped on the mat to face Russian Olympic champion Davit CHAKVETADZE (RUS).

The 22-year-old Belarusian was poised and confident, scoring the match's first point off a passivity. He extended his lead to 3-0 when Chakvetadze did not get set in the par terre position. Maskevich then lifted Chakvetadze from par terre and executed a five-point suplay before turning him for good measure to claim a 10-0 technical superiority in the first period.

Winning gold medals for Russia on Sunday were Roman VLASOV (77kg), Emin SEFERSHAEV (55kg) and Nazir ABDULLAEV (67kg).

Roman VLASOV (RUS) after winning gold at 77kg (Photo: Kadir Caliskan, UWW)

Vlasov, a two-time Olympic champion, hit a big throw on his way to a 6-1 victory over Zoltan LEVAI (HUN) in the 77kg finals. Vlasov scored first off a passivity and then executed a five-point throw to take a commanding 6-0 lead in the first period. Levai would get one the scoreboard in the second period off a passivity but was never able to threaten Vlasov.

Emin SEFERSHAEV (RUS) became the first champ at Individual World Cup, winning gold at 55kg (Photo: Gabor MARTIN, UWW)

Sefershaev, a U23 world silver medalist, claimed the gold at 55kg with an 8-0 technical superiority over Serif KILIC (TUR), a past junior world champion. The first period saw one only one point scored as Sefershaev earned a passivity point. The Russian turned it up in the second period. He scored another point off a passivity and then used a two-point throw to go up 6-0. Sefershaev scored two takedowns in the final 25 seconds to earn the technical superiority.


Nazir ABDULLAEV (RUS) raises his arms after winning gold at 67kg (Photo/Gabor MARTIN, UWW)

Abdullaev, a 2020 European silver medalist, needed a late score to edge 2014 Youth Olympic champion Islambek DADOV (AZE) 2-1 in the gold-medal match at 67kg. The two wrestlers traded passivity points, with Dadov scoring the second one in the final period to take a criteria lead. Abdullaev kept the pressure on and earned a step-out point with 23 seconds remaining, which proved to be the difference.

Champion Balint KORPASI (HUN) and the other 72kg medalists on the award stand (Photo/Gabor MARTIN, UWW)

Balint KORPASI (HUN), a 2016 world champion and  four-time world medalist, captured the gold at 72kg with a won a hard-fought 1-1 criteria win over world No.10 Malkhas AMOYAN (ARM). Amoyan scored the first point of the match off a passivity and led 1-0 at the break. In the second period, Korpasi scored a point off passivity to take the lead and held on for the victory.

Eldaniz AZIZLI (AZE) and Abdelkarim FERGAT (ALG) won the bronze medals at 55kg. Azizli shut out Balbai DORDOKOV (KGZ) 3-0, while Fergat topped Artiom DELEANU (MDA) 6-4.

Slavik GALSTYAN (ARM) won by fall over Artur POLITAIEV (UKR) to claim a bronze medal at 67kg. Roman PACURKOWSKI (POL) defeated Khalmurat IBRAGIMOV (KGZ) 6-3 to earn the other bronze at 67kg.

Cengiz ARSLAN (TUR) and Ruslan TSAREV (KGZ) won the bronze medals at 72kg.

Host nation Serbia earned two bronze medals on Sunday, with Viktor NEMES taking bronze at 77kg and Zurabi DATUNASHVILI winning bronze at 87kg. 

Also claiming bronze medals on Sunday were Alexandrin GUTU (MDA) at 77kg and Semen NOVIKOV (UKR) at 87kg.

Greco-Roman Medal Match Results

55kg
GOLD: Emin SEFERSHAEV (RUS) df. Serif KILIC (TUR) by VSU, 8-0
BRONZE: Eldaniz AZIZLI (AZE) df. Balbai DORDOKOV (KGZ) by VPO, 3-0
BRONZE: Abdelkarim FERGAT (ALG) df. Artiom DELEANU (MDA) by VPO1, 6-4

67kg
GOLD: Nazir ABDULLAEV (RUS) df. Islambek DADOV (AZE) by VPO1, 2-1
BRONZE: Slavik GALSTYAN (ARM) df. Artur POLITAIEV (UKR) by VFA, 4-4
BRONZE: Roman PACURKOWSKI (POL) df. Khalmurat IBRAGIMOV (KGZ) by VPO1, 6-3

72kg
GOLD: Balint KORPASI (HUN) df. Malkhas AMOYAN (ARM) by VPO1, 1-1
BRONZE: Cengiz ARSLAN (TUR) df. Valentin PETIC (MDA) by VPO1, 5-1
BRONZE: Ruslan TSAREV (KGZ) df. Aik MNATSAKANIAN (BUL) by VPO1, 3-1

77kg
GOLD: Roman VLASOV (RUS) df. Zoltan LEVAI (HUN) by VPO1, 6-1
BRONZE: Viktor NEMES (SRB) df. Karapet CHALYAN (ARM) by VPO1, 4-1
BRONZE: Alexandrin GUTU (MDA) df. Yasaf ZEINALOV (UKR) by VPO1, 6-4

87kg
GOLD: Kiryl MASKEVICH (BLR) df. Davit CHAKVETADZE (RUS) by VSU, 10-0
BRONZE: Semen NOVIKOV (UKR) df. Hossein Ahmad NOURI (IRI) by VSU1, 12-4
BRONZE: Zurabi DATUNASHVILI (SRB) df. Fabio PARISI (ITA) by VPO1, 3-1
 

#WrestleBelgrade

Live Blog, U23 World Championships Day 2: GR 60kg, 67kg, 72kg, 82kg, 97kg

By United World Wrestling Press

BELGRADE, Serbia (November 2) -- After a memorable first day, the U23 World Championships enter day two with five new Greco-Roman weight classes -- 60kg, 67kg, 72kg, 82kg and 97kg. Iran dominated day one and they will like to continue that on the second day but Russia is right behind them.

WATCH LIVE | MATCH ORDER

That will do for the morning session. Long one but we had some exciting matches and the semifinals are set. We also have the draws of the women's wrestling about now.

1545: A mini upset here! Arvi SAVOLAINEN (FIN) looked good to make the semifinals but he hit a rock named Pavel HLINCHUK (BLR) in the quarters. The Belarusian's top defense and scores give him a 7-3 win

1525: Kamal and Minasyan leave everything on the mat but it's Kamal who wins 2-2 on criteria for his takedown against the Armenian's one and one.

1520: Kamal gets the takedown and the two points. He leads 2-0. Turkey is asking for a point for step out but the referee rules it a push. Turkey challenge the call but lost. 2-1 for Kamal. Minasyan get a point for Kamal's passivity and it's 2-2 but Kamal holds criteria.

1510: Kerem KAMAL (TUR) is up against Tigran MINASYAN (ARM) in the 60kg quarterfinal. A big four to start for Minasyan but Turkey challenge for a leg four. Challenge won. 0-0.

1450: In a turn of events, Jafarov gives no opening and scores eight unanswered points to win 9-2 in the quarterfinals

1440: Big battle between Asian champion Sultan ASSETULY (KAZ) and junior world champion Hasrat JAFAROV (AZE). Assetuly is called passive and Jafarov gets a point. He fails to score from par terre but Azerbaijan challenge. Lost and Kazakhstan lead 1-1 on criteria

1410: Artur SARGSIAN (RUS) continues his quest for a second age-group world title and reaches the quarterfinals at 97kg with an 11-0 win over Nicholas BOYKIN (USA). As usual some big throws in that bout

1350: Sergei KUTUZOV (RUS) gives Iran a taste of their own medicine. He breaks Amir ABDI (IRI) in the 72kg bout and wins 9-1 and advance

1330: Junior world champion Hasrat JAFAROV (AZE) was tested in the first minute but he overcomes Vasile DOSOFTEI (ROU) 10-1 in the second period

1315: Kerem KAMAL is making his way to the mat for his first bout of the competition. He will face Tommaso BOSI (ITA). He gets a point for Bosi's passivity. Three gut wrenches and he leads 7-0. A huge throw and he wins 11-0

1300: Mehdi MOHSEN NEJAD (IRI) keeps Iran rolling with an 8-0 win over Dylan GREGERSON (USA). No Iran wrestler has suffered a loss on day two so far

1230: Mohammad NAGHOUSI (IRI) and Exauce MUKUBU (NOR) in a battle! Mukubu had the lead but the constant pressure from Naghousi tires him out. A 7-5 win for the Iranian 

1200: Artur SARGSIAN (RUS) is making his way to the mat! He faces Ondrej DADAK (CZE) at 97kg. He begins as the aggressor and Dadak is called for passivity. Sargasian hits a big four and a roll to lead 7-0. Dadak goes for a headlock but fails to connect. 4 points for Sargsian and an 11-0 win

1145: World silver medalist Sergei KUTUZOV (RUS) has Denis MERTL (CZE) in the opening round at 72kg. But he doesn't spend too much time on the mat as he wins 8-0 thanks to the gut-wrenches

1130: How far will Tigran MINASYAN (ARM) go in this tournament? He starts with an 8-0 win over Hleb MAKARANKA (BLR) 

1115: Junior world champion Hasrat JAFAROV (AZE) begins his quest for a U23 world gold with a controlled 3-1 win against Diego MARTINEZ DE LEIJA (MEX) 

1100: U23 European champion Anvar ALLAKHIAROV (RUS) has an easy first round as he beats Rayan B HAWSAWI (KSA) 9-0 to advance at 60kg 

1050: It was back and forth but Exauce MUKUBU (NOR) prevails 5-3 over Karlo KODRIC (CRO) in the opening round at 82kg 

1045: We are done with the repechage bouts. U23 European champion at 82kg Shamil OZHAEV (RUS) takes on Ilias PAGKALIDIS (GRE). Just effortless from Ozhaev as he wins 9-0

1030: Welcome to day two of the U23 World Championships from the Belexpocentar in Belgrade. Greco-Roman action continues with five new weight categories with Iran and Russia battling for the team title.