#BuchaWrestU23

2017 Senior World Champion Fumita (JPN) Among #BuchaWrestU23 Semifinalists

Tuesday, November 13, 2018 - 14:38 By Taylor Miller

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Photo: Kenchiro FUMITA (JPN) celebrates a World title at the 2017 Senior World Championships in Paris. Photo by Tony Rotundo.

BUCHAREST, Romania – After a full morning of Greco-Roman wrestling, the semifinals are set for the other five weights at the 2018 U23 World Championships in Bucharest, Romania.Among those that advanced to the semifinals, there is a 2017 Senior World champion, a U23 World champion, two Junior World champions and two other U23 World semifinalists.

2017 Senior World champion Kenchiro FUMITA (JPN) moved on to the semifinals after a close call against Armen MELIKYAN (ARM) in the quarterfinals. Tonight, Fumita will face Mehdi Seifollah MOHSEN NEJAD (IRI).

Two-time Junior World champion Murad MAMMADOV (AZE) defeated 2016 Junior World champion Dato CHKHARTISHVILI (GEO) in a tight 5-4 match to land a spot in the semifinals. Mammadov will go against 2017 and 2018 Junior World champion Kerim KAMAL (TUR).

Facing each other in the 67 kg semifinals is 2017 U23 World silver medalist Alen MIRZOIAN (RUS) and 2018 Senior World fifth-placer and 2016 Junior World bronze medalist Mohamed Ibrahim ELSAYED (EGY).

The other semifinal pits 2012 Cadet World champion Karim JAFAROV (AZE) against Otto LOSONCZI (HUN).

Battling for a spot in the finals at 72 kg will be Cengiz ARSLAN (TUR) and Artur POLITAIEV (UKR) on the top side of the bracket. To get to the semis, Politaiev pinned 2011 Cadet World bronze medalist Armen HAKOBYAN (ARM) with a first-period fall. Arslan took out 2014 Youth Olympic champion and 2016 Junior World bronze medalist Islambek DADOV (AZE) in the quarters.

On the bottom side, it will be 2016 Junior World silver medalist Kaharman KISSYMETOV (KAZ) against two-time Junior World champion and 2011 Cadet World champion Ramaz ZOIDZE (GEO).

At 82 kg, 2017 U23 World silver medalist Gela BOLKVADZE (GEO) wrestled his way to the semifinals and will face Takahiro TSURUDA (JPN) tonight.

On the other side of the bracket, home country’s Nicu OJOG (ROU), a 2015 Cadet World bronze medalist, will face two-time Junior African champion Ahmed Hassan AHMED (EGY), who, earlier in the day, knocked off the returning U23 World champion Vaag MARGARIAN (RUS) with a fall.

2017 U23 World champion Aleksandr GOLOVIN (RUS) defeated 2015 Junior World champion Nikoloz KAKHELASHVILI (ITA) in the quarterfinals to advance to the 97 kg semifinals. There, he will take on 2016 Junior World champion Giorgi MELIA (GEO).

The final semifinal of the night will feature three-time age-group World medalist Zsolt TOEROEK (HUN) and Ali Akbar HEIDARI (IRI).

The semifinals are set for 5:15 p.m. local time (10:15 a.m. ET). Fans can watch live on unitedworldwrestling.org.

Semifinal matchups

60 kg
Kenchiro FUMITA (JPN) vs. Mehdi Seifollah MOHSEN NEJAD (IRI)
Murad MAMMADOV (AZE) vs. Kerim KAMAL (TUR)

67 kg
Otto LOSONCZI (HUN) vs. Karim JAFAROV (AZE)
Alen MIRZOIAN (RUS) vs. Mohamed Ibrahim ELSAYED (EGY)

72 kg
Cengiz ARSLAN (TUR) vs. Artur POLITAIEV (UKR)
Ramaz ZOIDZE (GEO) vs. Kaharman KISSYMETOV (KAZ)

82 kg
Takahiro TSURUDA (JPN) vs. Gela BOLKVADZE (GEO)
Nicu OJOG (ROU) vs. Ahmed Hassan AHMED (EGY)

97 kg
Ali Akbar HEIDARI (IRI) vs. Zsolt TOEROEK (HUN)
Giorgi MELIA (GEO) vs. Aleksandr GOLOVIN (RUS)

#WrestleUlaanbaatar

Ulaanbaatar Open 2025 Live Blog: Day 2

Friday, May 30, 2025 - 02:48 By Vinay Siwach

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ULAANBAATAR, Mongolia (May 30) -- The action after Ulaanbaatar Open 2025 continues with three Greco-Roman weight classes and five Women's Wrestling weight classes in the Mongolian capital. European champion Kerem KAMAL (TUR) is at 63kg while a strong women's field will also be on the mat.

WATCH LIVE | LIVE MATCH ORDER | DAY 1 RESULTS

14:55: NEHA (IND) ends the 57kg semifinal with a double-leg attack for four points and beats Ana PEREIRA (BRA) 11-0 to enter the final at 57kg against Bolortuya KHURELKHUU (MGL).

14:50: Mongolia has a finalist! Bolortuya KHURELKHUU (MGL) manages to beat European silver medalist Elvira SULEYMAN KAMALOGLU (TUR) 4-0 in the 57kg semifinal.

14:40: Natalia MALYSHEVA (UWW) enters the final at 53kg after an 11-4 win over Otgontuya CHINBOLD (MGL). Apart from the four-point throw from Chinbold, Malysheva never looked in trouble in the semifinal. She will face Antim in the final, who won their round-robin match.

14:27: ANTIM (IND) puts on a takedown masterclass in the 53kg semifinal and beats Ariunzaya ODONCHIMEG (MGL) 10-0 to enter the final.

14:24: Another pin in semifinals! Natalia PUDOVA (UWW) survives a pin attempt from Munkhnar BYAMBASUREN (MGL) and then flips the script with a over-under throw and secures the fall. She will wrestle Evin DEMIRHAN (TUR) for the gold medal.

14:20: Evin DEMIRHAN (TUR) and NEELAM (IND) put on a show in the 50kg semifinal. Neelam tried to trip Demirhan who counter trips for four points. India challenge but is lost. Neelam goes behind in the next action and throw Demirhan for four points. But Demirhan keeps Neelam in a headlock and secures the pin.

14:10: Hanjae CHUNG (KOR) books a rematch with Kerem KAMAL (TUR) in the 63kg final after a hard-fought victory over Mohammad KESHTKAR (IRI). Keshtkar was cautioned early and Chung led 1-0. He got the par terre to be 2-0 up but failed to score. Keshtkar got on board with the par terre point in the second period but did not score any points. He threw everything he had at Chung who defended all attacks for a 2-1 win.

14:00: In the first semifinal at 63kg, Kerem KAMAL (TUR) manages to hold off an attacking Aref MOHAMMADI (QAT) for a 6-3 win. Mohammadi scored a takedown early to lead 2-0 but Kamal got a reverse left for two points from par terre and then a takedown to lead 6-2. A stepout late made it 6-3 but that was all as Kamal enters the final.

13:40: In the final match of the session, Enes BASAR (TUR) bounces back after being 2-0 down with a series of gut wrenches and wins 10-2 at 60kg. The semifinals for a few weight classes will begin now. 

13:10: ANTIM (IND) was kept quiet for the first two minutes of the bout but Natalia MALYSHEVA (UWW) gives up a takedown and Antim goes for the leg lace for a turn. Malysheva defends but Antim then goes the other way for lace and gets the 11-0 win at 53kg.

13:00: Asian medalist and former world U17 champion HARSHITA (IND) with her second win at 72kg. She beats Kristina BRATCHIKOVA (UWW) 11-0 in Round 3

12:55: Bediha GUN (TUR) would be upset with herself as he lets go off an advantageous situation and leads 6-6 on criteria to Anudari BATKHUYAG (MGL) at 59kg.

12:45: Kerem KAMAL (TUR) continues to power his way at 63kg as he downs Hanjae CHUNG (KOR) majorly with his defense. Chung got the par terre advantage but Kamal managed to sneak out of a bodylock. He failed to score from par terre as well but scored a takedown later to make it 3-1. Lost challenge from Korea gave him another point.  

12:35: NEHA (IND) seems unfazed in her first senior international tournament. She pins Munkhchimeg URJIN (MGL) in her second bout of the day.

12:30: Enes BASAR (TUR) needs only one minute and 18 seconds to beat SURAJ (IND) 8-0 at 60kg and take a big step towards the gold medal.

12:15: Hamza BAKIR (TUR) keeps his winning run at 130kg. He beats PREM (IND) via technical superiority and is now the favorite to win the gold medal.

11:55: Big win for world U20 bronze medalist NEHA (IND) over European silver medalist Elvira KAMALOGLU (TUR) at 57kg. The 18-year-old physical overpowered Kamaloglu and scored takedown. Kamaloglu scored a four-pointer but still went down 7-4 in a Round 2.

11:45: Natalia PUDOVA (UWW) with a big comeback win over NEELAM (IND). Pudova claims a 6-5 win at 50kg. The two wrestlers may wrestle again in the final if they can win all their remaining matches.

11:35: Akyl SULAIMANOV (KGZ) gave a scare to Enes BASAR (TUR) when he made it 5-5 with two minutes to go but Basar never got deterred with the score. He remains calm and wins 15-5.

11:26: European champion Kerem KAMAL (TUR) with a 4-1 win over Doolotbek CHOIBEKOV (KGZ). Kamal scored a turn from par terre and also had a point for lost challenge and then defended from par terre to win 4-1 at 63kg.

11:15: The only Brazil wrestler to have made the long trip to Ulaanbaatar Open makes it worth it as Ana PEREIRA (BRA) begins with a 2-1 win over Enkhtuvshin BALJINNYAM (MGL) at 57kg.

11:00: A little heated bout on Mat C between Mohammad KESHTKAR (IRI) and Aref MOHAMMADI (QAT) at 63kg, which ends in a thrilling fashion. Mohammadi was given both passivity advantages and he led 2-0 till the final 10 seconds. However, Keshtkar tried desperate headlock which Mohammadi seemed to have blocked. As Mohammadi scored the takedown, Keshtkar countered with a continuous roll and got two points. It was scored two points for Mohammadi and two points for Keshtkar. However, Iran challenged the call and on review, it was scored only two points for Keshtkar, as his attempted headpinch was called a slip throw. Keshtkar wins 2-2 on criteria.

10:55: Hanjae CHUNG (KOR) with two massive throws to stun Doolotbek CHOIBEKOV (KGZ) in the Round 1 bout of 63kg. Chung has been a former Asian Championships medalist and always a threat for medal.

10:50: Former world U17 champion SURAJ (IND) got throw for a four-pointer from Ganbayar NAMSRAI (MGL) but that was his only loss in concentration as he wins 8-5 against Namsrai at 60kg.

10:45: Paris Olympian Enes BASAR (TUR) defended well from par terre and beats Kurmanbek ZHAPAROV (KGZ) 8-3 to start his 63kg campaign.

10:30: Mongolia had some wrestle-offs to decide its competitors for the main draw as it had 5 wrestlers entered in a few categories. But we are all set for the Greco-Roman and Women's Wrestling now.