Akobiia Powers Ukraine to Historic Team Title at #WrestleBelgrade

Friday, November 5, 2021 - 21:36 By Vinay Siwach

BELGRADE, Serbia (November 5) – Alina AKOBIIA (UKR) has made four trips to the U23 World Championships but never returned with a gold medal.

She won a bronze in 2017, failed to medal in 2018 and reached the final in 2019 but Sae NANJO (JPN) proved too strong as Akobiia finished with a silver medal.

But the wait for gold finally ended Friday as the U23 European champion won the 57kg weight class at the U23 Worlds in Belgrade, Serbia. Not only it was a personal achievement but her gold added to Ukraine's stunning campaign which saw them win the team title for the first time at any World Championships.

“I finally won the gold medal,” Akobiia said. “It’s the first world title in my sporting career. I am very happy and thankful.”

Born in a small village in Poltava, Ukraine, Akobiia made evident the gulf of class between her and others in Belgrade, reaching the final after pinning every opponent.

A day later, the script had a slight change as she failed to pin Kristina MIKHNEVA (RUS) but the end result was the same. Akobiia was held scoreless in the first period, but a pair of takedowns with less than 40 seconds left in the bout pushed her past the Russian for a 5-1 win.

Heading into the final session, Ukraine sat in third place and trailed Russia by 14 points. Akobiia’s gold-medal win helped Ukraine leap the United States for second place and by the time the last final -- 72kg -- ended, they stole the title from Russia, 161 points to 140. The USA finished third with 102 points, two more than India. Turkey took fifth place in the race.

Anastasiia LAVRENCHUK (UKR) and Anastasiya ALPYEYEVA (UKR) won the two other gold medals for Ukraine at 65kg and 72kg respectively while Ana GODINEZ GONZALEZ (CAN) stopped them from winning a fourth as she denied Kateryna ZELENYKH (UKR) with a 10-7 win in the 62kg final, giving Canada its first gold medal of the tournament.

Lucia YEPEZ GUZMAN (ECU) became her country's first-ever female world champion. (Photo: Kadir Caliskan)

Lucia YEPEZ GUZMAN (ECU) created history when she won the 53kg gold medal, becoming the first-ever female world champion from her country.

The Tokyo Olympian faced U23 European champion Ekaterina VERBINA (RUS) in the final but unfazed by her opponent, she only used 70 seconds of the six minutes in the finals to pick up the fall. She became the fourth women’s wrestler of the #WrestleBelgrade competition to win their country's first-ever U23 world title.

A teary-eyed Yepez Guzman was filled with emotions as she talked to her family over the phone after the gold medal bout.

“It's a historic medal for Ecuador,” Yepez Guzman said. “I have been training for this for 10 years and I had studied the Russian wrestler. I am happy to win this.”

Alina AKOBIA Alina AKOBIIA (UKR) won a U23 World gold medal in her fourth attempt. (Photo: UWW / Kadir Caliskan)

Akobiia's medal got Ukraine going for the night as the team title hung in balance between Russia and Ukraine in the absence of women's wrestling powerhouses Japan and China.

The former junior world silver has had an exceptional year winning a bronze medal at the European Championships, qualifying Ukraine for the Tokyo Olympics and winning the U23 gold at the continental level.

“The Euros gold was also very important to me,” she said. “It’s a great feeling when you run around with the Ukrainian flag. I’ve been a European champion four times, but I have never been the world champion before, that’s why I am so happy.”

But two weeks before the Olympics she injured her elbow, forcing her to miss the Games but the gold Friday eased some of the pain she felt in August.

“The injury didn’t let me compete at the Olympics,” she said. “At the beginning when I was just injured, I didn’t realize what happened, I was shocked. Now when the Olympics have finished, I realized that I lost my opportunity. But I didn’t give up, a few months later, I came here and became a world champion.”

The 22-year-old is now ready to win a medal at the senior World Championships and is already focused on the 2024 Olympics.

“I haven’t competed at the senior worlds yet, but I hope I will win a medal as soon as I go there,” she said. “It’s the new Olympic cycle, it’s time to get ready.”

Anastasiia LAVRENCHUK (UKR) won the 65kg gold medal for Ukraine. (Photo: UWW / Kadir Caliskan)

At 65kg, Lavrenchuk secured a fall over Dinara KUDAEVA SALIKHOVA (RUS) and jumped around to celebrate her world title. She only needed 88 seconds for the pin.

“I’ve been trying to win the gold for so long,” Lavrenchuk said. “I had many injuries but I was ready to do anything to win.”

Lavrenchuk was in Oslo as well but at 68kg and lost 0-8 against Tamyra MENSAH STOCK (USA) after winning her opening round via fall. That experience helped her prepare for Belgrade.

“After the senior worlds in Oslo, I believed in myself to make it. The competition is tough in my category in Ukraine,” she said.

Talking about the team title win, she said that Ukraine deserves it because they have been training hard even during COVID-19.

“Even in the two years of coronavirus we kept training,” she said. “Our coaches are the best as they organize the training camps, prepare the schedule of the competitions.”

Anastasiya ALPYEYEVA (UKR) won the 72kg world title. (Photo: UWW / Kadir Caliskan)

Part of that team and another gold medalist was Alpyeyeva who overcame a tough challenge in Kendra DACHER (FRA) in the 72kg final. She trailed 0-1 going into the second period but scored a takedown to lead 2-1.

She held Dacher in danger position which the mat chairman called neutral but Ukraine challenged it and won, giving her two more points. Dacher, who was looking to win a second world gold for France, failed to add any more points.

“I can’t believe I won it,” she said adding that it was even more important to prove that their team is the best in the world.

“Our team is very friendly and our coaches raise the team spirit in us,” she said. “We proved long ago that our team is the best at the European level and it was important to prove the same thing on the world level.

Ana GODINEZ GONZALEZ (CAN) won the gold medal at 62kg in Belgrade. (Photo: UWW / Kadir Caliskan)

Ukraine could have won another gold but Godinez Gonzalez had other ideas. As the 62kg final began, Zelenykh caught Godinez Gonzalez on her heels with a double leg and put the first two points on the board. She added a step out from a single-leg attempt and led 3-0. The Ukrainian tacked on a second takedown and extended her lead to 5-0 after the opening three minutes.

Zenykh scored the third takedown after her Canadian opponent snapped her right into a double leg. But the match quickly turned in favor of the Canadian.

Zenykh dove in on a shot and surrendered a spin behind, cutting her lead to, 7-2. The Canadian scored four additional takedowns in the second period to steal the U23 world title.

“I feel like crying,” Godinez said. “I have been working very hard and to come back after losing a month ago at the senior Worlds in Oslo [lost to Ilona PROKOPEVNIUK (UKR) in the quarterfinals].”

But Godinez has spent the last one year traveling around Europe to get more experience as she aims to be successful at the senior level.

“The European style is different from North America,” she said. “I am trying to get more and more international experience and come to camps in Europe and I want to win senior worlds.”

The camps in Tallin, Estonia and Spala, Poland helped improve her wrestling. With an added advantage of superior conditioning, the Langely, British Colombia wrestler found it easier to wrestle six minutes than her opponent.

“After a couple of minutes I noticed that she was slowing down,” she said. “I worked really hard on my conditioning and I could see on her face that she was broken. I wrestled well and followed my game plan. It did not go accordingly in the final but a win is a win.”

Ukraine Ukraine won the women's team title at the U23 World Championships in Belgrade. (Photo: UWW / Belgrade)

RESULTS

53kg
GOLD: Lucia YEPEZ GUZMAN (ECU) df Ekaterina VERBINA (RUS), via fall

BRONZE: Mariia VYNNYK (UKR) df Mariana DRAGUTAN (MDA), 9-6
BRONZE: Zeynep YETGIL (TUR) df Munkhgerel MUNKHBAT (MGL), 8-3

57kg
GOLD: Alina AKOBIIA (UKR) df Kristina MIKHNEVA (RUS), 5-1

BRONZE: Esther KOLAWOLE (NGR) df Patrycja GIL (POL), 9-8
BRONZE: Hannah TAYLOR (CAN) df Othelie HOEIE (NOR), 12-8

62kg
GOLD: Ana GODINEZ GONZALEZ (CAN) df Kateryna ZELENYKH (UKR), 10-7

BRONZE: RADHIKA (IND) df Aurora CAMPAGNA (ITA), 6-4
BRONZE: Anastasiia PAROKHINA (RUS) df Anna FABIAN (SRB), 8-1

65kg
GOLD: Anastasiia LAVRENCHUK (UKR) df Dinara KUDAEVA SALIKHOVA (RUS), via fall

BRONZE: Nisha DAHIYA (IND) df Elma ZEIDLERE (LAT), 10-0
BRONZE: Asli DEMIR (TUR) df Elena ESPOSITO (ITA), 3-2

72kg
GOLD: Anastasiya ALPYEYEVA (UKR) df Kendra DACHER (FRA), 4-1

BRONZE: Eleni PJOLLAJ (ITA) df Anastasiya ZIMIANKOVA (BLR), via fall
BRONZE: Divya KAKRAN (IND) df Kayla MARANO (USA), via fall

#WrestleBelgrade

Sidakov wins World Championships showdown with Dake; Micic, Aitmukhan claim historic golds

Monday, September 18, 2023 - 21:46 By Ken Marantz

BELGRADE, Serbia (September 18) -- After years on an inevitable collision course, Zaurbek SIDAKOV (AIN) and Kyle DAKE (USA) finally met on the mat. In a wild encounter that lived up to the billing, Sidakov landed a big first blow as a Possible Prelude to Paris.

Sidakov wrangled enough points fighting off Dake's counters to forge a 10-7 victory in a highly anticipated freestyle 74kg final on Monday, the third day of the World Championships that is also serving as the first qualifier for the 2024 Paris Olympics.

"As you have all seen, the final match was really tough," Sidakov said. "Kyle is a worthy opponent. He is a four-time world champion and Olympic medalist, so I had this fighting spirit inside, I was going up there to wrestle for the whole six minutes."

While wrestling fans around the world got one of the dream matches they have been longing to see, it was also a day of celebration for the host country, which saw the crowning of its first-ever world champion in freestyle with the ascension of Stevan MICIC (SRB) at 57kg in Belgrade's Stark Arena.

Kazakhstan also saw the emergence of a first-ever freestyle gold medalist at a World Championships, with teenager Rizabek AITMUKHAN (KAZ) taking the title in the non-Olympic weight of 92kg, one of two decided on Monday.

Sidakov, in his first major competition since winning the gold at the Tokyo Olympics, was trailing on criteria when he took the lead with a mind-boggling scramble, then finished up the victory with a late exposure for his third career world title.

Sidakov and Dake had been world champions together in 2018 and 2019 when the American was competing at 79kg. But Dake moved down to 74kg ahead of the 2021 Olympics, and although they did not meet in Tokyo, where Dake took bronze, the two were destined to someday take the mat together.

That day came on Monday and did not disappoint.

Dake struck first, gaining a step out in the first period while on the activity clock. Sidakov came back in the second period with a double-leg takedown, just seconds before he received an activity clock point to go up 3-1. Midway through the period, Dake went ahead on criteria with a well-executed single-leg takedown.

With 40 seconds left, all hell broke loose. Sidakov came in low on a single, and a seated Dake went into his counter position, reaching over and wrapping up the chest. In a crazy scramble, bodies and limbs were tossed around and when it was all sorted out, Sidakov was awarded five points (two exposures and a reversal) and Dake four (two exposures), putting Sidakov up 8-7.

"I had very different thoughts going through my mind," Sidakov said of what he was thinking during the challenge. "Either keep the score or attack, but one should choose only one plan and follow it. Today my plan worked out. As you’ve seen, I won the match."

There was no way that this was going to end calmly, and another scramble that could have gone either way in the final seconds ended up adding 2 to Sidakov's tally.

"[It was] two years without wrestling much internationally," Sidakov said. "I wrestled six matches at this tournament, the last time I wrestled as many matches as I did this time I think was on a cadet level. I woke up in the morning today, and I felt this pain in my body, but I prepared for the fight."

Stevan MICIC (SRB) defeated Rei HIGUCHI (JPN) in the 57kg final to become Serbia's first-ever Freestyle world champion. (Photo: UWW / Kadir Caliskan)

Micic, who defeated reigning world champion Zelimkhan ABAKAROV (ALB) and Tokyo Olympic gold medalist Zavur UGUEV (AIN) en route to the final, stepped up his game to another level to defeat 2016 Olympic silver medalist Rei HIGUCHI (JPN) 7-4.

"This is insane," said the American-bred Micic, whose grandparents emigrated to the U.S. from the former Yugoslavia. "It feels like a dream... In reality, this is what I've been working for, and I think it's going to take a minute for this to actually set in. I'm so proud of myself, but also proud of all the support behind me."

Micic, who spent time training in Japan earlier this year, got on the scoreboard first with a go-behind takedown, but Higuchi came back with a blast double to go into the second period up 2-2 on criteria. Higuchi added a single-leg takedown to up the lead to 4-2, but Micic regained the lead with a takedown.

As Higuchi, the world champion last year at 61kg, pressed for the winning takedown, Micic used his long reach to score 2 with a counter. In the final seconds, Higuchi got in deep with a single at the edge, but a challenge failed to give him the points he was seeking.

"The biggest difference between Higuchi and the other opponents is that his offense is so crisp," Micic said. "For Higuchi, my guard had to be up always."

Micic said his 9-7 quarterfinal victory on Sunday over Uguev gave him the boost of confidence that propelled the 2022 bronze medalist to his greatest triumph.

"I felt a confidence in myself for Abakarov that maybe wouldn't have been if I didn't wrestle Uguev first," he said. "Maybe the Abakarov match [a 6-2 win in the semifinals] might have been different."

Akhmed USMANOV (AIN) won the 79kg gold medal after beating Vladimeri GAMKRELIDZE (GEO), 4-1, in the final. (Photo: Amirreza Aliasgari)

There were also two finals in non-Olympic weight classes.

At 79kg, Akhmed USMANOV (AIN) made the most of his first tournament abroad since winning a world junior (U20) silver medal in 2016, winning the gold with a workmanlike 4-1 victory over world U23 champion Vladimeri GAMKRELIDZE (GEO).

Usmanov was limited to an activity point in the first period but started the second with a lightning-quick high crotch takedown for a 3-0 lead. He added a stepout before Gamkrelidze added one of his own in the final seconds.

"The final match was really tough," Usmanov said. "In the first period, the score was 1-0 and in the 2nd period, I knew I had to attack to get the points and make the difference bigger."

Rizabek AITMUKHAN (KAZ) became Kazakhastan's first-ever Freestyle world champion. (Photo: UWW / Kostadin Andonov)

The other gold went to teenager Aitmukhan, who came from behind to deny two-time bronze medalist Osman NURMAGOMEDOV (AZE) a first gold with a 5-2 victory at 92kg.

Nurmagomedov had a 2-0 lead from an activity point and stepout when Aitmukhan, the Asian silver medalist this year, finally got on the scoreboard with a stepout with 30 seconds left. But the referees deemed that Nurmagomedov had fled the action and tacked on another point to put Aitmukhan up 2-2 on criteria.

As Nurmagomedov pressed for a winning move, Aitmukhan whizzed him over at the edge for 2. An unsuccessful challenge added the final point.

Before Aitmukhan made it to the top of the podium, Kazakhstan had five wrestlers who made it to the final at a senior worlds, but each went down to defeat.

Hetik CABOLOV (SRB) qualified Serbia at 74kg for the Paris Olympics with bronze medal at World Championships. (Photo: UWW / Amirreza Aliasgari)

Serbia adds bronze

In the bronze-medal matches in the Olympic weights, Hetik CABOLOV (SRB) gave the host country another ticket to Paris when he rallied to a 6-4 victory over Turan BAYRAMOV (AZE) at 74kg for his third career world medal.

Bayramov was on the clock when he scored a takedown with a slick inside trip to lead 2-1. The Azeri side initiated a challenge, hoping to make the takedown a 4-pointer. That was denied, but still left Bayramov ahead on criteria.

But with 20 seconds left, Cabalov scored a single-leg takedown and added a roll to go up 6-2.

That gave him the leeway when he gave up a stepout and a fleeing point in the final seconds, allowing him to add the bronze medal to the silver he won in 2017 and gold in 2016.

The other bronze at 74kg went to Daichi TAKATANI (JPN), whose dramatic victory by fall over Georgios KOUGIOUMTSIDIS (GRE) allowed him to emulate his older brother Sohsuke as both a world medalist and Olympian.

Takatani found himself in an early 4-point hole before he cut the gap with a takedown at the end of the first period. In the second period, he got in deep on a single, transitioned to a cradle and worked Kougioumtsidis onto his back. He then stepped over and clamped down for the fall at 3:37.

The elder Takatani brother appeared in his third Olympics in Tokyo and won a silver medal -- also at 74kg -- at the 2014 World Championships. The Japan federation has decreed that any wrestler in an Olympic weight class who wins a medal will automatically fill the Olympic berth, meaning Daichi has a confirmed ticket to Paris.

Zelimkhan ABAKAROV (ALB) defeated Zavur UGUEV (AIN) in the bronze medal bout at 57kg. (Photo: UWW / Kadir Caliskan)

At 57kg, Abakarov came out on top in his bronze-medal clash with Uguev, scoring a takedown and exposure in the final 40 seconds to win 4-4 on criteria.

Uguev, the gold medalist in Tokyo two years ago, looked in control after taking a 4-0 lead with an activity point, a stepout early in the second period, and a takedown while on the activity clock. But Abakarov, who last year became Albania's first-ever world gold medalist, stepped up when it counted and pulled off the victory.

Arsen HARUTYUNYAN (ARM) captured his third straight world bronze and first at 57kg, which means a second chance for an Olympic medal. Having moved down from 61kg to the Olympic weight, Harutyunyan totally dominated Meirambek KARTBAY (KAZ) with an 11-0 technical fall.

Two-time world silver medalist Mohammad NOKHODI (IRI) won the bronze medal at 79kg. (Photo: UWW / Amirreza Aliasgari)

In the non-Olympic weight classes, Mohammad NOKHODI (IRI) wasn't able to improve on the silver medals he won the past two years at 79kg, but won't be leaving Belgrade empty-handed after taking bronze with a comprehensive 10-0 rout of Orkhan ABASOV (AZE).

Nokhodi seized the momentum from the opening whistle, scoring a takedown and a pair of gut wrenches for a quick 6-0 lead. He then picked up two snapdown takedowns, the second one ending the match at 2:50.

In a battle of reigning continental champions, Vasyl MYKHAILOV (UKR) earned his second straight bronze at 79kg, scoring a takedown in the first period that proved decisive in a 3-1 victory over Bolat SAKAYEV (KAZ).

Feyzullah AKTURK (TUR) denied Miriani MAISURADZE (GEO) a second straight world bronze medal at 92kg. (Photo: UWW / Kostadin Andonov)

At 92kg, two-time European champion Feyzullah AKTURK (TUR) denied Miriani MAISURADZE (GEO) a second straight world bronze in dramatic fashion, scoring the winning takedown with two seconds left for a 5-3 victory.

Akturk was leading 3-1 and squandered a takedown opportunity that kept the door open for Maisuradze, who then tripped Akturk out at the edge with 20 seconds left. The original call of a stepout was revised on a challenge to a takedown, putting the Georgian up 3-3 on criteria.

But Akturk wasn't going to go down easy and immediately secured a single leg, got it up in the air, and then took the action to the mat where he forced Maisuradze's knee down for the winning points.

Zahid VALENCIA (USA) celebrates after beating Arash YOSHIDA (JPN) in the 92kg bronze-medal bout. (Photo: UWW / Amirreza Aliasgari)

Zahid VALENCIA (USA) added the other 92kg bronze to the U.S. tally, overwhelming teenaged Asian champion Arash YOSHIDA (JPN) by a 10-0 technical fall in 1:41.

Valencia led 3-0 after an exposure off a scramble and an unsuccessful challenge, then transitioned from a takedown to a high-thigh lock before reeling off three rolls to finish the match.

Zavur UGUEV (AIN) returned to win a Paris Olympic quota as an Individual Neutral Athlete. (Photo: UWW / Amirreza Aliasgari)

Uguev, Kougioumtsidis prevail in playoffs

Uguev returned to the mat later in the fifth-place playoff for the Paris Olympic quota at 57kg and rode an early takedown to a 4-0 victory over Kartbay.

For now, Uguev has secured the Olympic spot as an Individual Neutral Athlete, but it hinges on a final determination by the International Olympic Committee on the eligibility of Russian and Belarussian athletes in Paris.

Georgios KOUGIOUMTSIDIS (GRE) clinched a Paris Olympic quota after he won in the playoff as Turan BAYRAMOV (AZE) was cautioned out. (Photo: UWW / Amirreza Aliasgari)

Kougioumtsidis gained the 74kg quota for Greece, coming back from an 8-point deficit to defeat Bayramov, officially by disqualification after a third caution. Kougioumtsidis kept chipping away at the lead as a fatigued Bayramova drew two cautions for fleeing.

But Bayramov, who had a 4-point throw in the first period, looked like he might still hang on when Kougioumtsidis scored a step out at the buzzer to tie the score 8-8. But the Greeks launched a challenge that Bayramov had grabbed Kougioumtsidis' singlet, and that was upheld, resulting in the disqualification.

Day 3 Results

Freestyle

57kg (33 entries)
GOLD: Stevan MICIC (SRB) df. Rei HIGUCHI (JPN), 7-4

BRONZE: Arsen HARUTYUNYAN (ARM) df. Meirambek KARTBAY (KAZ) by TF, 10-0, 3:59
BRONZE: Zelimkhan ABAKAROV (ALB) df. Zavur UGUEV (AIN), 4-4

5th-Place Playoff: Zavur UGUEV (AIN) df. Meirambek KARTBAY (KAZ), 4-0

65kg (45 entries)
GOLD: Iszmail MUSZUKAJEV (HUN) vs. Sebastian RIVERA (PUR)

Semifinal: Iszmail MUSUKAEV (HUN) df. Rahman AMOUZAD (IRI), 6-5
Semifinal: Sebastian RIVERA (PUR) df. Vazgen TEVANYAN (ARM), 10-9

74kg (45 entries)
GOLD: Zaurbek SIDAKOV (AIN) df. Kyle DAKE (USA), 10-7

BRONZE: Hetik CABOLOV (SRB) df. Turan BAYRAMOV (AZE), 6-4
BRONZE: Daichi TAKATANI (JPN) df. Georgios KOUGIOUMTSIDIS (GRE) by Fall, 3:37 (6-4)

5th-Place Playoff: Georgios KOUGIOUMTSIDIS (GRE) df. Turan BAYRAMOV (AZE) by Disq.,
6:00 (8-8)

79kg (27 entries)
GOLD: Akhmed USMANOV (AIN) df. Vladimeri GAMKRELIDZE (GEO), 5-1

BRONZE: Mohammad NOKHODI (IRI) df. Orkhan ABASOV (AZE) by TF, 10-0, 2:50
BRONZE: Vasyl MYKHAILOV (UKR) df. Bolat SAKAYEV (KAZ), 3-1

92kg (27 entries)
GOLD: Rizabek AITMUKHAN (KAZ) df. Osman NURMAGOMEDOV (AZE), 5-2
BRONZE: Feyzullah AKTURK (TUR) df. Miriani MAISURADZE (GEO), 5-3
BRONZE: Zahid VALENCIA (USA) df. Arash YOSHIDA (JPN) by TF, 11-0, 1:41

97kg (35 entries)
GOLD: Magomedkhan MAGOMEDOV (AZE) vs. Akhmed TAZHUDINOV (BRN)

Semifinal: Magomedkhan MAGOMEDOV (AZE) df. Givi MATCHARASHVILI (GEO), 6-1
Semifinal: Akhmed TAZHUDINOV (BRN) df. Abdulrashid SADULAEV (AIN) by Inj. Def., 4:57 (9-2)

Women's Wrestling

55kg (19 entries)
GOLD: Haruna OKUNO (JPN) vs. Jacarra WINCHESTER (USA)

Semifinal: Haruna OKUNO (JPN) df. Mariana DRAGUTAN (MDA), 6-0
Semifinal: Jacarra WINCHESTER (USA) df. Anastasia BLAYVAS (GER) by TF, 10-0, 4:02

59kg (22 entries)
GOLD: Qi ZHANG (CHN) vs. Yuliia TKACH (UKR)

Semifinal: Qi ZHANG (CHN) df. Jennifer PAGE (USA), 5-1
Semifinal: Yuliia TKACH (UKR) df. Elena BRUGGER (GER) by Fall, 1:14 (2-0)

Akobiia Powers Ukraine to Historic Team Title at #WrestleBelgrade

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Sidakov wins World Championships showdown with Dake; Micic, Aitmukhan claim historic golds