Veteran stars Huseynov, Shariati lead Azerbaijan show in World Olympic Qualifier

Thursday, May 9, 2024 - 19:34 By Vinay Siwach

ISTANBUL, Turkiye (May 9) -- Two 35-year-old veterans Rafig HUSEYNOV (AZE) and Sabah SHARIATI (AZE) lead a commanding performance from Azerbaijan at the World Olympic Games Qualifier, securing three Paris Olympic spots. This has increased the number of qualified wrestlers for Azerbaijan in Greco-Roman to five with the country winning Olympic spots in 60kg, 87kg and 130kg, adding to the 67kg and 77kg it won at the World Championships in Belgrade.

Apart from Azerbaijan, four other countries won Paris Olympic spots and four Individual Neutral Athletes confirmed their tickets as well on day one of the tournament in Istanbul.

Each weight class offers three Paris 2024 quotas with two awarded on Thursday while the third will be awarded on Friday. The wrestlers eligible for repechage will compete Friday and try to reach the bronze-medal bout against the losing semifinalists. The winners of the bronze-medal bouts in each weight category will compete in a playoff and the winner of this playoff will get the third quota.

Former world champion and Tokyo Olympic bronze medalist was Rafiq HUSEYNOV (AZE) who managed to win the spot at 87kg. The veteran was up against another world champion Lasha GOBADZE (GEO) for the Paris spot and came out on top 4-1. His road to the semifinals included tough wins over Sunil KUMAR (IND) [4-3] in the 1/8 finals and Alex KESSIDIS (SWE) [2-1] in the quarterfinals.

"Everyone knows about my injuries," Huseynov said. "I had three surgeries before the European qualifying tournament in Baku. Now, I am not in optimal form but normal form for competition. After two months, we will be ready for the Olympics and I will get good form."

Huseynov will be looking to better his Tokyo Olympic bronze medal that he won at 77kg. But he also knows that the Olympics can throw several surprising results.

"I have all the medals and I hope that now I can win the Olympic title at 87kg," he said. "The Olympics is a surprise competition. No one knows how it will be. We can't say anything. If I do everything like I did in Tokyo, I think I can win. We will show the best of our wrestling."

Murad MAMMADOV (AZE) won the spot at 60kg after beating Razvan ARNAUT (ROU) 8-2 in the semifinals. Mammadov got the spot on the Azerbaijan team after European champion Nihat MAMMADLI (AZE) lost at the European OG Qualifier in Baku. And he made the most of it.

He opened his day with a technical superiority 10-1 win over Aleksandrs JURKJANS (LAT), defeated Christopher KRAEMER (GER) with a similar scoreline and stopped Michal TRACZ (POL) 5-1 in the quarterfinals. In the qualifying bout, Arnaut never looked like challenging Mammadov who will now be representing Azerbaijan in Paris.

The other spot at 60kg went to Sadyk LALAEV (AIN) who crushed Dahyun KIM (KOR) 8-0 in just 37 seconds in the other semifinal.

Sahab SHARIATI (AZE) defeated Pavel HLINCHUK (AIN) 1-1 in the 130kg semifinals. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kadir Caliskan)

Rio Olympic bronze medalist Shariati had to beat up-and-coming Pavel HLINCHUK (AIN) 1-1 in the 130kg semifinal to earn the Paris spot after the two exchange passivity points. Shiariati got the point in the second period to hold the criteria lead. But in his earlier bouts, Shariati defeated Nikolaos NTOUNIAS (GRE) 8-3, rocked Roman KIM (KGZ) 10-0 and held Mantas KNYSTAUTAS (LTU) to 1-1.

Another veteran was looking to earn a spot at 130kg but 38-year-old Heiki NABI (EST) was denied by 34-year-old Alin ALEXUC CIURARIU (ROU). The Romanian managed to qualify for his fourth Olympics after a 1-1 win over Nabi.

Kiryl MASKEVICH (AIN) celebrates after beating Turpal BISULTANOV (DEN) in the 87kg semifinal. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kadir Caliskan)

At 87kg, former world silver medalist Kiryl MASKEVICH (AIN) had to beat another world silver medalist Turpal BISULTANOV (DEN) to earn a ticket to Paris 2024. He scored two turns from par terre in the first period and stopped Bisultanov in the second to post a 5-2 win.

Another world silver medalist who earned a Paris spot was Sergei KUTUZOV (AIN) at 77kg. Perhaps the most dominant wrestler of the day, Kutuzov had two technical superiority wins and an 8-2 victory in the semifinals before the defeated Iuri LOMADZE (GEO) 5-2 in the semifinal.

Aik MNATSAKANIAN (BUL) managed to hold Riu LIU (CHN) in the semifinal 1-1 and the criteria win helped him win the quota for Bulgaria at 77kg. This was his second 1-1 win as he had beaten Paulius GALKINAS (LTU) in the quarterfinal with the same scoreline.

Before those matches, he defeated former world silver medalist Zoltan LEVAI (HUN) 2-1 and Marcos SANCHEZ SILVA (ESP) in his opening bout.

At 67kg, Moldova and Georgia got the Paris 2024 spots with Valentin PETIC (MDA) and Ramaz ZOIDZE (GEO) respectively. Petic defeated Etienne KINSINGER (GER) 3-1 in the qualification bout while Zoidze performed a stunning bodylock to beat Lei LI (CHN) 10-0.

"Everything went as planned," Zoide said. "I had surgery on my shoulder. I wasn’t training and competing for 10 months. I have won the Olympic quota. I have a chance to make my dream come true, but now it’s not just a dream, it’s my goal."

Zoide said that he is happy to have proved his doubters wrong after many doubted if he will return after his injury.

"Many people didn’t believe that I would make it," he said. "They were saying that my injury was very severe and I didn’t have enough time to recover. Today I proved to everyone that I can do it. Some people were against me competing here. I read some comments on the internet saying that Zoidze is not ready to compete. Now I am happy to prove that I actually can do it."

Tokyo Olympic fifth-placer Arvi SAVOLAINEN (FIN) will return to the Olympics as he won the spot after beating Yuri NAKAZATO (JPN), a surprise semifinalist at 97kg, 4-2. Nakazato led 2-1 at the break but Savolainen got the par terre and a turn to lead 4-2 and win with that score.

The other wrestler qualifying at 97kg was Artur SARGSIAN (AIN) who broke his arm at the World Championships. Apart from a close 2-1 win in the quarterfinal, Sargsian was in complete control of his bouts including the semifinal in which he beat Lucas LAZOGIANIS (GER) 3-1.

RESULTS

60kg Paris Qualification Bouts
Sadyk LALAEV (AIN) df. Dahyun KIM (KOR), 8-0
Murad MAMMADOV (AZE) df. Razvan ARNAUT (ROU), 8-2

67kg Paris Qualification Bouts
Valentin PETIC (MDA) df. Etienne KINSINGER (GER), 3-1
Ramaz ZOIDZE (GEO) df. Lei LI (CHN), 10-0

77kg Paris Qualification Bouts
Aik MNATSAKANIAN (BUL) df. Rui LIU (CHN), 1-1
Sergei KUTUZOV (AIN) df. Iuri LOMADZE (GEO), 5-2

87kg Paris Qualification Bouts
Kiryl MASKEVICH (AIN) df. Turpal BISULTANOV (DEN), 5-2
Lasha GOBADZE (GEO) df. Rafig HUSEYNOV (AZE), 4-1

97kg Paris Qualification Bouts
Arvi SAVOLAINEN (FIN) df. Yuri NAKAZATO (JPN), 4-2
Artur SARGSIAN (AIN) df. Lucas LAZOGIANIS (GER), 3-1

130kg Paris Qualification Bouts
Sabah SHARIATI (AZE) df. Pavel HLINCHUK (AIN), 1-1
Alin ALEXUC CIURARIU (ROU) df. Heiki NABI (EST), 1-1

#WrestleIstanbul

Saori Yoshida's niece Chisato wins U17 world gold

Thursday, August 3, 2023 - 18:38 By Vinay Siwach

ISTANBUL (August 3) -- With lessons from last year's loss and advice from 13-time world and three-time Olympic champion Saori YOSHIDA (JPN) -- and her aunt, no less -- Chisato YOSHIDA (JPN) won her first U17 world title in Istanbul, Turkiye on Thursday.

She was one of the three champions Japan crowned as it continues to dominate Women's Wrestling in all competitions. The United States won the remaining two finals as the first five gold medals were awarded in Istanbul.

Yoshida, who suffered a 3-1 loss to HARSHITA (IND) at 69kg in Rome last year, changed her tactics this year and upgraded her silver medal to gold.

"I'm going to fight until the very end and score a clean win," Yoshida was quoted as saying after her silver medal in Rome.

In the 65kg final on Thursday, Yoshida did leave it late but managed to win clean against Duygu GEN (TUR). She opted for a desperate slide-by in the final 15 seconds to score the match-winning takedown.

The 16-year-old from the Aichi Prefecture led 1-0 at the break as Gen was called for her inactivity but the Turkish wrestler got the 1-1 criteria lead after Yoshida was warned of the same in the second period. But Yoshida remained calm and scored a slide-by takedown to lead 3-1 before trying to arm-bar Gen which gave her two more points and a 5-1 win.

Yoshida, who stands at just 1.53 meters, celebrated her win by jumping around perhaps overcoming her loss from a year ago.

The daughter of Saori's elder brother Hidetoshi, Yoshida has been training since she was two years old and like Saori, she began training at the wrestling school her late grandfather Eikatsu founded in central Japan's Mie Prefecture.

Sowaka UCHIDA (JPN) defended her 57kg gold medal by beating Eylem ENGIN (TUR). (Photo: UWW / Kadir Caliskan)

Joining Yoshida on the top of the podium was Sowaka UCHIDA (JPN) who defended her gold medal at 57kg in a similar run as she had in Rome. She had outscored her opponents 30-0 in four bouts in Rome and in Istanbul, she outscored her opponents 48-4 with only NEHA (IND) able to score on her.

While the host country Turkiye was hoping for an upset and win for Eylem ENGIN (TUR), Uchida was in no mood to grant that wish. She went to work from the first whistle and scored her first takedown using an outside single. She repeated the sequence with another single to her left and tried to get hold of the arm for the pin. But she managed only a takedown before transitioning into a leg lace to extend her lead 6-0.

With a minute and 32 seconds remaining on the clock, Yoshida completed her 10-0 win over Engin and added a second world title to her name.

Rinka OGAWA (JPN) locked Sviatlana KATENKA (AIN) a leg-lace and won the 49kg final 11-0. (Photo: UWW / Kadir Caliskan)

The third gold medal for Japan was won by Rinka OGAWA (JPN) at 49kg as she humbled two-time U17 European champion Sviatlana KATENKA (AIN) in the final. She needed only a minute and 36 seconds to claim the gold.

Katenka was warned for her passivity and while was trying to evade Ogawa's underhooks, Ogawa came out with a strong snap and scored her first takedown. She then locked up Katenka in a leg lace and finished the bout with four turns.

Morgan TURNER (USA) celebrates after scoring in the final seconds against Mona EZAKA (JPN) to win the 43kg gold medal. (Photo: UWW / Kadir Caliskan)

U.S wins 2 golds

Japan had the chance to have four world champions on Thursday but Morgan TURNER (USA) pulled off a clutch win at 43kg to deny Japan the gold medal.

Turner, who is a U17 Pan-Am champion from 2021, scored an exposure in the dying seconds of the final to beat the clock and Mona EZAKA (JPN) who left the mat in tears.

"I have been waiting for this since winning the world team trials so like six months," Turner said. "But I still want to win the Olympics. I don't want to be known only as the U17 world champ."

While the final was frantic in the second period, it began on a very slow note in the first as Ezaka was called passive and Turner got the first point on the board. Ezaka took the 1-1 criteria lead for Turner's passivity despite the American's effort to score a point in the activity period.

Turner kept her attacks going and in one sequence pushed Ezaka to the danger zone but the Japanese wrestler snuck out to score a stepout and lead 2-1.

"I had to be low because she was shorter than me," she said explaining her strategy for the final. "I knew I had to push the pace of the match."

The 16-year-old then went for a final attempt and tried a go-behind before switching to an arm-bar, turning Ezaka's shoulders more than 90 degrees and scoring two points. The officials did not score the points initially but the United States challenged and on review, two points were awarded to Turner, making her a 3-2 winner and a world champion.

"I knew I had to keep wrestling, keep pushing no matter the circumstances," she said. "She [Ezaka] is a great competitor. They train very well and I don't see any team like Japan. I don't think I will endure a practice like they do."

Turner's win over Ezaka, who lost her second straight U17 Worlds final, was the first time since 2015 that a wrestler from the U.S. managed to beat a Japanese wrestler, on the seventh attempt, in a gold medal bout.

Piper FOWLER (USA) defeated Lotta ENGLICH (GER) in the 73kg final to win the U17 World Championships gold. (Photo: UWW / Kadir Caliskan)

Though she did not beat a Japanese wrestler in the final, Piper FOWLER (USA) defeated returning bronze medalist Lotta ENGLICH (GER) to win the gold medal at 73kg, marking the first time an American wrestler has won the highest weight class at this age-group.

"It's always been a dream of mine [to win world title]," Fowler said. "It's hard work and you have to have confidence in yourself to be able to win big tournaments."

In the final, Fowler got the advantage as she was the aggressor and Englich was put on the activity clock. After being 1-0 up, Fowler countered an Englich attack by getting on a double-leg before going head-outside for a takedown. That gave her a 3-0 lead at the break

In the second period, Fowler planted her underhooks each time Englich tried going for attacks. While that put her on that activity clock late in the bout, she scored exposure from a cradle two seconds before the clock expired and extended her lead to 5-0. Englich scored a counter exposure but it was too little too late as Fowler won 5-2 to give the United States its second gold of Women's Wrestling.

On Wednesday, Fowler had defeated Ako UCHIYAMA (JPN) 6-0 in the opening bout, Laia HORTA (ESP) 13-0 in the quarterfinals and Aliaksandra KAZLOVA (AIN) 10-2 to reach the final against Englich who was trying to become only the third female from Germany to win a U17 world title.

"It was a hard match," she said. "I knew what I needed to do [to win] and stay out of positions. Getting a takedown always puts you ahead as you get points and then be steady after that, get to ties and get to attacks."

Fowler has now joined a growing list of U.S. women's wrestlers with a world title at the heaviest weight class. She said that she has looked up to all the wrestlers who have been at this stage before her.

"I have always looked up to those women, especially Adeline GRAY (USA)," she said. "It's incredible to see the things they do. I am just here to continue what they started.

MUSKAN (IND) will try to win her second U17 Worlds gold after she reached the 46kg final. (Photo: UWW / Ulug Han)

Japan, India enter 4 in WW finals

Japan managed to send four more wrestlers into the final on Thursday as it had done on Wednesday. India, after a disappointing start to Women's Wrestling on Wednesday, bounced back and placed four wrestlers in the final as well.

At 40kg, Koharu AKUTSU (JPN) rode on a second-period takedown against U17 European champion Klara WINKLER (GER) after the two wrestlers exchanged passivity points to confirm her spot in the final against RACHANA (IND). The Indian wrestler was involved in a thriller against Jaclyn BOUZAKIS (USA) but secured exposure in the final 10 seconds to win 5-4.

Sakura ONISHI (JPN) tries to pin Karlee BROOKS (USA) on her way to the 53kg final. (Photo: UWW / Ulug Bugra Han)

Sakura ONISHI (JPN) made it to her second straight U17 Worlds final as she defeated Fabiana RINELLA (ITA) 11-0 in the 53kg semifinal. Last year, Onishi suffered a heartbreaking loss to Mariia YEFREMOVA (UKR) and finished with a silver medal. To win her first U17 world title, she will wrestle Olga OVCHINNIKOVA (AIN) who pinned Sakibjamal ESBOSYNOVA (UZB) in the other semifinal at 53kg.

U17 world champion at 43kg, MUSKAN (IND) reached another U17 world final after she pinned Meiramgul AKHMETZHAN (KAZ) in the 46kg semifinals. Muskan was dominant throughout the day and will take on Natsumi MASUDA (JPN) for the gold medal. Masuda survived a scare against Daniella BEKY (NOR) when the Norway wrestler had Masuda locked in a double-arm and was looking for a pin. After scraping out of that position, Masuda finished the semifinal 12-2.

In another Japan vs. Norway semifinal, Konami ONO (JPN) pinned Leah SAMSONSEN (NOR) in the 61kg semifinal and she will now take on returning champion SAVITA (IND) who defeated Haylie JAFFEE (USA) 10-0, using five takedowns via her quick attacks.

An all-Balkan semifinal was held at 69kg as returning bronze medalist and U17 European champion Veronika VILK (CRO) defeated Evelin UJHELJI (SRB), 6-2, to reach the final as she tries to win a historic world title for Croatia. She will have to go past SRISHTI (IND) to do that as the Indian reached the final from the other side of the bracket after beating Jasmine ROBINSON (USA), 8-5, in a close semifinal.

RESULTS

43kg
GOLD: Morgan TURNER (USA) df. Mona EZAKA (JPN), 3-2

BRONZE: Nilufar NURMUKHAMMADOVA (UZB) df. Alina MAZHAROUSKAYA (AIN), 10-0
BRONZE: Aleksandra BEREZOVSKAIA (AIN) df. Maria GKIKA (GRE), 5-1

49kg
GOLD: Rinka OGAWA (JPN) df. Sviatlana KATENKA (AIN), 11-0

BRONZE: Tana TIULIUSH (AIN) df. DRISHTI (IND), 4-4
BRONZE: Heather CRULL (USA) df. Lonisa REKA (KOS), 10-0

57kg
GOLD: Sowaka UCHIDA (JPN) df. Eylem ENGIN (TUR), 10-0

BRONZE: Viktoria BOYNOVA (BUL) df. Aziza KELDIBEKOVA (KGZ), 5-4
BRONZE: NEHA (IND) df. YeoJin MIN (KOR), 10-0

65kg
GOLD: Chisato YOSHIDA (JPN) df. Duygu GEN (TUR), 5-1

BRONZE: Margarita SALNAZARIAN (AIN) df. Mukhayyo RAKHIMJONOVA (UZB), via fall (5-0)
BRONZE: Mouda HAMDOUN (EGY) df. Maryia MAKARCHANKA (AIN), via fall (10-4)

73kg
GOLD: Piper FOWLER (USA) df. Lotta ENGLICH (GER), 5-2

BRONZE: Aliaksandra KAZLOVA (AIN) df. Ako UCHIYAMA (JPN), 2-0
BRONZE: Elmira YASIN (TUR) df. Asaloy AMANGELDIEVA (UZB), 6-0

Veronika VILK (CRO) will try to win Croatia's first-ever wrestling world title on Friday. (Photo: UWW / Ulug Bugra Han)

Semifinals

40kg
GOLD: RACHANA (IND) vs. Koharu AKUTSU (JPN)

SF 1: RACHANA (IND) df. Jaclyn BOUZAKIS (USA), 5-4
SF 2: Koharu AKUTSU (JPN) df. Klara WINKLER (GER), 4-1

46kg
GOLD: Natsumi MASUDA (JPN) vs. MUSKAN (IND)

SF 1: Natsumi MASUDA (JPN) df. Daniella BEKY (NOR), 12-2
SF 2: MUSKAN (IND) df. Meiramgul AKHMETZHAN (KAZ), via fall

53kg
GOLD: Olga OVCHINNIKOVA (AIN) vs. Sakura ONISHI (JPN)

SF 1: Olga OVCHINNIKOVA (AIN) df. Sakibjamal ESBOSYNOVA (UZB), via fall
SF 2: Sakura ONISHI (JPN) df. Fabiana RINELLA (ITA), 11-0

61kg
GOLD: Konami ONO (JPN) vs. SAVITA (IND)

SF 1: Konami ONO (JPN) df. Leah SAMSONSEN (NOR), via fall
SF 2: SAVITA (IND) df. Emma JAFFEE (USA), 10-0

69kg
GOLD: Veronika VILK (CRO) vs. SRISHTI (IND)

SF 1: Veronika VILK (CRO) df. Evelin UJHELJI (SRB), 6-2
SF 2: SRISHTI (IND) df. Jasmine ROBINSON (USA), 8-5

Veteran stars Huseynov, Shariati lead Azerbaijan show in World Olympic Qualifier

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Saori Yoshida's niece Chisato wins U17 world gold