Abuladze Upgrades Oslo Silver to #WrestleBelgrade Gold

Tuesday, November 2, 2021 - 21:52 By Vinay Siwach

BELGRADE, Serbia (November 2) -- In the last 24 days, Leri ABULADZE (GEO) captured a silver medal at the Senior World Championships and a gold at the U23 Worlds.

Recovering from a heartbreaking 5-4 loss in the Oslo finals to Meysam DALKHANI (IRI), Abuladze dug deep for the 3-1 win over Ahmet OYUR (TUR) in the 63kg final in Belgrade and won his first-ever world title.

Abuladze was one of the five wrestlers that won gold on Tuesday at the Belexpocentar in the Serbian capital. Russia won two gold while Iran and Hungary each won one.

Abuladze's wrestling was the highlight of the tournament over the two days. He scored from disadvantageous positions and defended as if his life depended on it to rally to the title. And though he holds the silver in Oslo higher, he said he was proud of his effort in Belgrade.

"It's not possible to describe the feeling I had when the Georgian anthem was playing," Abuladze said.

In the final, the Georgian controlled Uyar for the first period, and after following up an inactivity point with a left-sided gut wrench, carried a three-point lead into the second period.

But in the second period, Abuladze had to dig deep after giving up an inactivity point himself. He furiously fought off a Turkish lift attempt and won his first world title with a 3-1 victory.

Despite a testing final, he picks the semifinal against Tokyo Olympian Alireza NEJATI (IRI) as his toughest bout of the tournament.

"The one with the Iran wrestler [was the toughest bout]," he said. "That is because he is a senior world medalist [2019], he was in Tokyo Olympics.

"He is a good wrestler and a tough opponent, but the stronger one won."

Abuladze is Georgia's fifth-ever U23 Greco-Roman world champion. He joined Shmagi BOLKVADZE, Nugzari TSURTSUMIA, Zviadi PATARIDZE and Gela BOLKVADZE.

Tamas LEVAI (HUN) won the 77kg gold medal at the U23 World Championships. (Photo: UWW / Mohammed Yahia)

At 77kg, Tamas LEVAI (HUN) joined Erik SZILVASSY as Hungary's only U23 GR world titleholder with a tactical 5-1 performance over Amin KAVIYANINEJAD (IRI). The Hungarian lit up the scoreboard with all five of his points in the first period of the 77kg finals. The refs awarded Levai the one point for inactivity before throwing Kaviyaninejad's feet over his head with a four-point lift.

The inactivity was returned in the second period, but Levai escaped while only giving up the one point. Nevertheless, he hung on and stopped the Iranian from adding a fourth world title to his resume.

"I wanted this so bad," Levai said. "My family is of wrestlers, but we did not have a medal at the World Championships. But I have broken the ice."

Levai has been a constant performer at the continental level but made a name for himself when he defeated two-time Olympic champion Roman VLASOV (RUS) at the Poland Open. But Vlasov avenged that loss in Oslo.

With Vlasov watching from the stands, Levai was motivated to impress the Greco-Roman legend from Russia.

"Before coming here, I imagined myself as a world champion," he said. "I was very focused and thinking that if I can beat Vlasov, then I can beat anyone. So I was motivated and wanted to show him that I am a really good wrestler."

Mavlud RIZMANOV (RUS), red, won the first gold of the U23 Worlds. (Photo: UWW / Kadir Caliskan)

Russia had two finalists Tuesday and both came away with gold. Mavlud RIZMANOV (RUS) was up first. He stopped Iran's Poya DAD MARZ from winning a second age-group world title with a two-point come-from-behind win at 55kg.

The '21 U23 European bronze medalist surrendered an inactivity point and trailed 1-0 heading into the final frame. However, with less than two minutes to go in the bout, the Russian failed to capitalize on a lift attempt but seamlessly transitioned into a right-sided gut wrench and gained a 3-1 lead.

Rizmanov, who was introduced to the sport by his brothers and as he got better, got admitted to the Rostov Olympic College, fought off a late flurry of attacks from Dad Marz and picked up Russia's first 25-point gold medal win over of the night.

"I knew it wasn't going to be easy as Iranians are always tough to wrestle," Rizmanov said. "I was prepared for a six-minute bout."

KOMAROV Aleksandr KOMAROV (RUS) won his fifth age-group world title Tuesday. (Photo: UWW / Kadir Caliskan)

The second gold came at 87kg, as Aleksandr KOMAROV (RUS) ascended to the top of the fifth time in his career with a blistering 9-0 win over David LOSONCZI (HUN).

The young-up-and-coming Russian started the match on the slow foot but found his arm drag late in the first period and blew the doors off the bout. He led 3-0 but scored a pair of takedowns and two step-outs with that arm drag and closed the match out with a nine-point win.

Komarov last won one of five gold medals in age-group Worlds in 2018 and was relieved that he could do the same again.

"It's been a long time since I last won," Kamorov said. "But it would be definitely better to win the senior world than any age-group title."

The Russian had a tough road to the final and was tested at every stage, especially the semifinal against Temuri TCHKUASELIDZE (GEO), which he won 7-7.

"All my opponents were the leaders of our weight category," he said. "Wrestlers from Iran, India and even the semifinal was difficult. It's the first time when I had so difficult bouts one after another."

The 23-year-old wants to carry forward the age-group success into the senior category and win medals.

"Now it's important to get ready for the Russian nationals; I really want the gold medals on the senior level," he said.

Amin MIRZAZADEH (IRI) is now a three-time age-group world champion. (Photo: UWW / Kadir Caliskan)

Iran capped the day with the gold medal after failing twice earlier in the evening as Tokyo Olympian Amin MIRZAZADEH (IRI) used a quick second-period takedown to move past David OVASAPYAN (ARM), 2-1, and won the 130kg titile. The final was a rematch from the 2018 Junior World Championships final which the Iranian won as well.

Mirzazadeh expressed his relief at winning the gold in a tough year which saw him finish fifth at the Olympics and battle with the COVID-19 virus.

"This year was a tough year for me, and I am happy that I could get this medal at the end," Mirzazadeh said. "In the second match against Russia, my ankle got injured, but I am happy that I could finish that match."

Though he wanted to be a world champion in Oslo, he still was motivated for the U23 Worlds and became a champion in Belgrade.

"I kept myself hopeful [despite missing the Oslo tournament] and continued my training," he said. "Although victory in Seniors is sweet but being champion at U23 level is also valuable. It is a good step and will motivate me to continue."

RESULTS

55kg
GOLD: Mavlud RIZMANOV (RUS) df Poya DAD MARZ (IRI), 3-1

BRONZE: Adem UZUN (TUR) df Arslan ABDURAKHMANOV (KAZ), via fall
BRONZE: Nihad GULUZADE (AZE) df Taylor LA MONT (USA), 9-0

60kg
GOLD: Mehdi MOHSEN NEJAD (IRI) vs Anvar ALLAKHIAROV (RUS)

SF 1: Anvar ALLAKHIAROV (RUS) df Kerem KAMAL (TUR), 9-0
SF 2: Mehdi MOHSEN NEJAD (IRI) df Pridon ABULADZE (GEO), 5-3

63kg
GOLD: Leri ABULADZE (GEO) df Ahmet UYAR (TUR), 3-1

BRONZE: Ali NEJATI (IRI) df Georgii TIBILOV (RUS), 9-0
BRONZE: Hrachya POGHOSYAN (ARM) df Corneliu RUSU (MDA), 9-0

67kg
GOLD: Mohammad REZAEI (IRI) vs Hasrat JAFAROV (AZE)

SF 1: Hasrat JAFAROV (AZE) df Kadir KAMAL (TUR), 3-1
SF 2: Mohammad REZAEI (IRI) df Joni KHETSURIANI (GEO), 5-1

72kg
GOLD - Sergei KUTUZOV (RUS) vs Idris IBAEV (GER)

SF 1: Idris IBAEV (GER) df Shant KHACHATRYAN (ARM), 9-0
SF 2: Sergei KUTUZOV (RUS) df Ulvi GANIZADE (AZE), 3-2

77kg
GOLD: Tamas LEVAI (HUN) df Amin KAVIYANINEJAD (IRI), 5-1

BRONZE: Sergei STEPANOV (RUS) df Nikoloz TCHIKAIDZE (GEO), 9-0
BRONZE: Per Albin OLOFSSON (SWE) df Dmytro VASETSKYI (UKR), 2-1

82kg
GOLD: Aivengo RIKADZE (GEO) vs Ramon BETSCHART (SUI)

SF 1: Ramon BETSCHART (SUI) df Moric KISMONI (HUN), 6-1
SF 2: Aivengo RIKADZE (GEO) df Mohammad NAGHOUSI (IRI), 5-2

87kg
GOLD: Aleksandr KOMAROV (RUS) df David LOSONCZI (HUN), 9-0

BRONZE: Naser ALIZADEH (IRI) df Temuri TCHKUASELIDZE (GEO), 15-7
BRONZE: Szymon SZYMONOWICZ (POL) df Markus SIHTOLA (FIN), 5-2

97kg
GOLD: Pavel HLINCHUK (BLR) vs Artur SARGSIAN (RUS)

SF 1: Artur SARGSIAN (RUS) df Markus RAGGINGER (AUT), 3-1
SF 2: Pavel HLINCHUK (BLR) df Robert ERSEK (HUN), via fall

130kg
GOLD: Amin MIRZAZADEH (IRI) df David OVASAPYAN (ARM), 2-1

BRONZE: Mikhail LAPTEV (RUS) df Fatih BOZKURT (TUR), 6-0
BRONZE: Dariusz VITEK (HUN) df Delian ALISHAHI (SUI), 3-0

#BeachWrestling

Beach Wrestling: Iran's return to top; Puerto Rico, Azerbaijan win first golds

Sunday, September 28, 2025 - 13:44 By United World Wrestling Press

KATERINI-PIERIA, Greece (September 27) -- Iran’s return to Beach Wrestling after an eight-year absence could have been cautious. Instead, it was commanding.

Iran won four medals, including two golds, to claim the men’s team title at the U17 World Beach Wrestling Championships after a close race with Georgia, which finished second with 75 points to Iran’s 80. Azerbaijan was third with 62 points.

In the women's category, hosts Greece managed to go past France to finish first with 50 points while France ended up second with 42. The United States was third with 32 points.

The U17 World Championships is a significant stop in Beach Wrestling as it will be taken into consideration for while awarding the quotas for the 2026 Youth Olympic Games.

Iran Iran's two gold medalists in Greece, Mahdi FOTOUHI (IRI), left, at 90kg and Youssof HOSSEIN (IRI), right, at 70kg.

Gold medalists for Iran, Youssof HOSSEIN (IRI) at 70kg and Mahdi FOTOUHI (IRI) at 90kg, were competing in Beach Wrestling for the first time but never let their inexperience affect their performances.

Hossein, who defeated Stefan MUNTEAN (MDA) in the knockout match, was placed in Group D with Yuki UEDA (JPN), Nikolaos PAPADOPOULOS (GRE) and Ilie TURCAN (MDA). He defeated Papadopoulos 3-1 in the group bout before blanking Turcan 3-0 in just 40 seconds. He was quicker against Ueda, winning in 34 seconds.

Facing Luka MAKHARADZE (GEO) in the quarterfinals, Hossein scored a 3-1 victory and took only 40 seconds to beat Rashad ALIYEV (AZE) in the semifinals.

In an all-Iran final, Hossein fell behind 1-0 against Ilyar VEGHARI (IRI) but stormed back with two straight points with a knee and head touch from Veghari. He used a lateral drop as his final move to win 5-1. Veghari's lost challenge added to Hossein's score and made it 6-1.

Fotouhi was even more dominant at 90kg, winning all three of his group bouts via fall. Charilaos CHAITIDIS (GRE) survived getting pinned in the quarterfinals but Fotouhi was strong enough to win 3-0 and advance to the semifinals.

After winning the semifinal 2-1 against Elgun KARIMLI (AZE), Fotouhi was back to his dominant self and slammed Joni SHAORSHADZE (GEO) to pick his fourth fall in six bouts and the gold medal for Iran.

Fotouhi began with a step out to earn his first point of the final. Both wrestlers arm-locked each other and tried to throw at the edge but it was Shaorshadze who touched outside first which gave Fotouhi his second point.

In one of those moments when his Freestyle instincts took over, Fotouhi went for duckunder and touched his knee on the sand which gave Shaorshadze a point to make the score 2-1. The Georgian tried a fireman carry in the final 10 seconds but Fotouhi pancaked him for a fall.

At 60kg, Mykyta KUZMENKO (UKR) defeated Rati BERIDZE (GEO) twice, first in the group stages and then in final, to claim the gold medal.

Kuzmenko blanked all his opponents barring Beridze who managed to score one point when the two met in the Group B bout. However, the Ukrainian improved and gave no chance to Beridze in the final, winning 3-0.

The Ukrainian was quick to score two step-outs and lead 2-0 and when Beridze tried to score a point, Kuzmenko snapped him down and scored his third and winning point.

Georgia had another silver medalist, Nuradin MUSTAFAEV (GEO), who suffered a one-sided loss in the 80kg final to Nihad SULEYMANLI (AZE), who had represented Azerbaijan at the U17 World Championships in Athens in August.

Suleymanli did not give up a single point in the tournament and won the final against Mustafaev 3-0. He scored a step-out to open the scoring in the final before Mustafaev fell on the ground to give a second point. The Georgian wrestler tried tripping Suleymanli but instead gave a takedown for one point to drop the final.

Azerbaijan's first-ever gold medalist Ulviyya MUSAYEVA (AZE) with other team members.

Historic golds for Puerto Rico, Azerbaijan

In the women's category, Puerto Rico and Azerbaijan earned historic golds as four different countries crowned champions.

Heklanys RIVERA (PUR), the first woman to compete in Beach Wrestling for her country, made a stunning run to the gold medal at 45kg. She did not give up a single point in six bouts including the final.

Taking on Kaltouma SALISSOU (FRA) in the final, Rivera was put on the 30-second activity clock. With eight seconds remaining, Rivera used an underhook to get the first takedown for a point.

The second point was awarded to Rivera when Salissou committed a foul by grabbing Rivera's shorts. The winning takedown was similar to the first one as Rivera moved from underhook to tripping Salissou.

For Azerbaijan, 15-year-old Ulviyya MUSAYEVA (AZE) needed only 16 seconds to create history. She defeated last year's champion Reisa KOJIMA (JPN) via fall in the 55kg final. Kojima tried hitting a lateral drop in the final but fell on her back, which gave Musayeva three points for the win.

Earlier, Musayeva had lost one of the group bouts against Mia KOVAC (CRO) via fall but rebounded to win all remaining bouts to make the final and then capture the gold medal.

Hosts Greece, which won the team title, earned the gold medal at 75kg through Elena ZAIMIDOU (GRE) who scored a 32-second victory via fall over Madeline HAYDEN (USA) in the final.

Zaimidou, who has competed and won gold in Grappling at the European level, secured three victories via fall, and a victory via superiority over Merily VAESTER (EST) in the semifinals.

In the gold medal bout, Hayden stunned the local fans when she hit a beautiful over-the-head suplex on Zaimidou. Hayden went for a second suplex, but Zaimidou blocked her, using a headlock, and Hayden fell on her back which gave Zaimidou three points and the victory.

Hayden challenged the scoring but the points were confirmed on review and Zaimidou was awarded a point for lost challenge, which made her score 4-1.

European bronze medalist in Women's Wrestling, Alexandra MOISEI (MDA) earned the gold medal at 65kg after some nervous wins. She defeated Thea ROUSSEL (FRA), 3-0, in the final in 49 seconds using three easy snapdowns.

Abuladze Upgrades Oslo Silver to #WrestleBelgrade Gold

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Beach Wrestling: Iran's return to top; Puerto Rico, Azerbaijan win first golds