#WrestleBudapest19

Three World Champions Struck Down in #WrestleBudapest Semifinals

By Taylor Miller

Photo of Vitali GOLOEV (RUS) by Sachiko Hotaka.

BUDAPEST, Hungary – Three world champions lost in the semifinals on Tuesday as the last set of men’s freestyle finals were set for the 2019 U23 World Championships in Budapest, Hungary.

Defeating World champions were Gadzhimurad MAGOMEDSAIDOV (AZE) at 86 kg, Bo NICKAL (USA) at 92 kg and Vitali GOLOEV (RUS) at 125 kg.

Magomedsaidov, a two-time Junior World bronze medalist, took out 2018 Junior World champion Hayato ISHIGURO (JPN) with a 5-3 decision.

In the 86 kg title match, Magomedsaidov will face returning U23 World champion and 2013 Cadet World silver medalist Kamran GHASEMPOUR (IRI), who won his semifinal 4-4 on criteria.

At 92 kg, Nickal knocked off reigning U23 World champion Shamil Zubairov (AZE) in a dominant 9-1 victory.

For gold, Nickal will take on Batyrbek TSAKULOV (RUS). In his semifinal, Tsakulov cruised past 2019 Junior World runner-up Yonger BASTIDA POMARES (CUB), 6-1.

Moving onto the 125 kg gold-medal match, Goloev impressed with a 10-0 performance against 2017 Cadet World champion and 2018 Cadet World silver medalist Daniel Greg KERKVLIET (USA).

In the finals, Goloev will go head-to-head with Amir Hossein ZARE (IRI), who is a 2018 Junior World champion and a 2019 Junior World silver medalist. Zare won his semifinal with an 11-0 shutout against Zuriko URTASHVILI (GEO).

Iran and Russia will also face off in the 74 kg gold match as 2018 Junior World silver medalist Razambek ZHAMALOV (RUS) takes on 2017 Cadet World bronze medalist Mohammed NOKHODILARIMI (IRI).

Wrestling for the title at 61 kg is 2016 Cadet World bronze medalist Ravinder RAVINDER (IND) and 2019 U23 Asian champion Ulukbek ZHOLDOSHBEKOV (KGZ).

The medal matches take place on Wednesday at 6 p.m. local time live on unitedworldwrestling.org.

Semifinals results

61 kg
Ravinder RAVINDER (IND) df. Armen HARUTYUNYAN (ARM), fall
Ulukbek ZHOLDOSHBEKOV (KGZ) df. Ryutaro HAYAMA (JPN), 12-1

74 kg
Razambek ZHAMALOV (RUS) df. Giorgi SULAVA (GEO), 15-7
Mohammed NOKHODILARIMI (IRI) df. Murad KURAMAGOMEDOV (HUN), 9-4

86 kg
Gadzhimurad MAGOMEDSAIDOV (AZE) df. Hayato ISHIGURO (JPN), 5-3
Kamran GHASEMPOUR (IRI) df. Osman GOCEN (TUR), 4-4

92 kg
Bo NICKAL (USA) df. Shamil Zubairov (AZE), 9-1

Batyrbek TSAKULOV (RUS) df. Yonger BASTIDA POMARES (CUB), 6-1

125 kg
Vitali GOLOEV (RUS) df. Daniel Greg KERKVLIET (USA), 10-0
Amir Hossein ZARE (IRI) df. Zuriko URTASHVILI (GEO), 11-0

Finals matchups
61 kg: Ravinder RAVINDER (IND) vs. Ulukbek ZHOLDOSHBEKOV (KGZ)
74 kg: Razambek ZHAMALOV (RUS) vs. Mohammed NOKHODILARIMI (IRI)
86 kg: Gadzhimurad MAGOMEDSAIDOV (AZE) vs. Kamran GHASEMPOUR (IRI)
92 kg: Bo NICKAL (USA) vs.
Batyrbek TSAKULOV (RUS)
125 kg: Vitali GOLOEV (RUS) vs. Amir Hossein ZARE (IRI)

 

#BeachWrestling

Asian Beach Games: Iran Sweeps Men's Golds; India Wins 2 in Women's

By United World Wrestling Press

SANYA, China (April 29) -- Iran swept the gold medals in men's Beach Wrestling at the 6th Asian Beach Games in Sanya, winning all four finals.

In women's, India won two golds, hosts China one and Sri Lanka won a historic gold medal, its first of the Games which began on April and will close on April 30.

The gold rush of Iran began when Aliakbar ZAROUDI (IRI) defeated SIDDHARTH (IND) convincingly in the 70kg final, 3-0. The second gold medal came at 80kg as Ali GHOLAMI (IRI) pinned Muhammad Asad ULLAH (PAK) in the final.

In two of the matches of the day, Amirhossein KAVOUSI (IRI) defeated former Beach Wrestling world champion Muhammad INAM (PAK), 3-0, not letting the Pakistan wrestler stay in his defensive shell as he is rather used to.

The +90kg final between Seyedamirreza SAHRAEIMAHALI (IRI) and the seven feet tall Da LU (CHN) also ended in Iran winning 3-0, dashing the hopes of hosts China winning at least one gold in men's weight categories.

"It is the best gift for the people back home," said ​Iran coach Ali BAZYAR. "I hope this brings some happiness during the tough times our nation is navigating."

PRIYA (IND)PRIYA (IND) won the gold medal in +70kg weight category in Sanya. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Jake Kirkman)

India Wins 2 Golds

India had two finalists in women's and both came home with gold medals. Former U17 and U20 world champion PRIYA (IND) earned the gold medal in +70kg in a thrilling final against Bolortungalag ZORIGT (MGL). Priya needed a late point to win 3-2 against a tiring Zorigt to give India its third gold of the Games.

The second gold came from Pushpa YADAV (IND) who stunned Asian champion and local favorite Mengyu XIE (CHN), blanking her 3-0 in the 60kg final.

But Jia LONG (CHN) made sure the host China claim at least one gold in Beach Wrestling as she won the 70kg gold medal over Thi Linh DANG (VIE), pinning the Vietnam wrestler in the final.

Sri Lanka's historic gold in Beach Wrestling was won by Nipuni HEWA PEDIGE (SRI), who held on to a 3-1 victory over Thi Kim Oanh DOAN (VIE) in the 50kg final.

“This is my first international medal, and it is a gold medal, so I am very happy with my performance," Hewa Pedige was quoted as saying by OCA.

RESULTS

Men's Beach Wrestling

70kg
GOLD: Aliakbar ZAROUDI (IRI) df. SIDDHARTH (IND), 3-0

BRONZE: Adis RAKHAT UULU (KGZ) df. Muhammad ABDULLAH (PAK), 3-0

80kg
GOLD: Ali GHOLAMI (IRI) df. Muhammad Asad ULLAH (PAK), via fall

BRONZE: Feng LU (CHN) df. Yermakhan KOSHKINBAYEV (KAZ), 3-0

90kg
GOLD: Amirhossein KAVOUSI (IRI) df. Muhammad INAM (PAK), 3-0

BRONZE: Turbold GANBOLD (MGL) df. Peilong LI (CHN), 3-1

+90kg
GOLD: Seyedamirreza SAHRAEIMAHALI (IRI) df. Da LU (CHN), 3-0

BRONZE: Shamil SHARIPOV (BRN) df. Muzafar ZHAPPUEV (KGZ), 3-0

Women's Beach Wrestling

50kg
GOLD: Nipuni HEWA PEDIGE (SRI) df. Thi Kim Oanh DOAN (VIE), 3-1

BRONZE: Funa YANO (JPN) df. Priyanshi PRAJAPAT (IND), via inj. def.

60kg
GOLD: Pushpa YADAV (IND) df. Mengyu XIE (CHN), 3-0

BRONZE: Thi My Hanh NGUYEN (VIE) df. Youngjin KWON (KOR), 4-0

70kg
GOLD: Jia LONG (CHN) df. Thi Linh DANG (VIE), via fall

BRONZE: Jaspreet KAUR (IND) df. Beibit SEIDUALY (KAZ), 2-0

+70kg
GOLD: PRIYA (IND) df. Bolortungalag ZORIGT (MGL), 3-2

BRONZE: Wenji LI (CHN) df. Alina YERTOSTIK (KAZ), 2-0