#WrestleTokyo

Al-Obaidi Named to IOC Refugee Team, Will Wrestle at Tokyo 2020

Wednesday, June 9, 2021 - 14:21 By United World Wrestling Press

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CORSIER-SUR-VEVEY, Switzerland (June 9) -- Aker AL-OBAIDI, an Iraqi-refugee currently living, working, and wrestling in Austria has been named to the IOC Refugee Team for the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo. The 67kg Greco-Roman athlete will be the first wrestler to compete for the Refugee Team at the Olympic Games.

"This is one of the most beautiful moments in my life, said Al-Obaidi. "I am so happy that this dream has come true. I have imagined this situation so many times. Now I will do everything to be well prepared in Tokyo!“

Al-Obaidi, who holds an Austrian residence permit and has received the full support of the Austrian Wrestling Federation, was able to travel around Europe and attend several major wrestling competitions the past few years, including the 2019 Junior European Championships where he took bronze.

"We are very proud of Aker," said United World Wrestling president Nenad LALOVIC. "He has worked hard to achieve his goals on and off the mat. We are in full support of his career and share in his excitement for competing in Tokyo this summer."

"The Austrian Wrestling Federation was key to helping Aker to train," said to Deqa NIAMKEY. "His training partners, and especially his coach Benedikt Ernst were essential in assisting Aker with training, travel, and acclimating to his new life in Austria."

Al-Obaidi stayed busy on the mats over the last three years, competing in several tournaments including two Olympic qualification events held in 2021.

2021 U23 Senior European Championships
2021 World OG Qualifier
2021 Senior European Championships
2021 Grand Prix Henry Deglane
2021 European OG Qualifier
2020 European OG Qualifier
2020 Senior European Championships
2019 Junior World Championships
2019 Junior European Championships

The Refugee Olympic Team (EOR) includes 25 Refugee Athlete Scholarship-holders from 11 countries who have been living and training in 13 host countries and represents 12 sports. For all official representations of the team (i.e. medal ceremonies) the Olympic flag will be raised, and the Olympic anthem will be played.

Al-Obaidi will take the mats for the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games on Tuesday, August 3rd inside the Makuharri Messe in Tokyo. 

#WrestleBelgrade

Makhmudov returns to worlds final; Kayaalp-Mirzazadeh showdown at 130kg

Thursday, September 21, 2023 - 16:22 By Vinay Siwach

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BELGRADE, Serbia (September 21) -- World champion and Olympic silver medalist Akzhol MAKHMUDOV (KGZ) survived a big scare in the semifinal of the 77kg weight class as Nao KUSAKA (JPN) came within three points of stunning the Kyrgyz history maker.

Makhmudov survived to win 7-5 in a bout that saw Kusaka mount a comeback in the second period after trailing 7-1.

Kusaka got the first passivity advantage but failed to get any turn on Makhmudov who got a takedown using an arm spin and one turn to lead 4-1. In the second period, Kusaka was called passive and Makhmudov managed to turn him again to make it 7-1.

But as Makhmudov began to fade away, Kusaka scored two takedowns in one minute to make it 7-5. Makhmudov defended his two-point lead for the final 15 seconds to make it to the final.

"It makes me realize I am not so far from the world level," Kusaka said about his performance. "In the second period, the opponent was running out of gas. I just needed to get one more move. But there was fatigue from the tournament overall. I wanted to attack but I couldn't. I'm still a bit behind."

Kusaka still has a chance to qualify for the 2024 Paris Olympics if he wins a bronze medal on Friday.

"I will try to get what I have put everything in my life into," he said about qualifying for Paris. "It was disappointing [to lose today], but tomorrow I will regroup and definitely come out and win. Whether I lose in the first round or in the semifinal, if I don't get to the Olympics it's all for nothing."

Makhmudov will take on 2021 world silver medalist Sanan SULEYMANOV (AZE) for the gold medal. Suleymanov put on a big show to defeat European champion Malkhas AMOYAN (ARM) 5-0 as he got a big four-pointer in the second period to get the win.

Both Kyrgyzstan and Azerbaijan also won Paris Olympic spots, thanks to the wrestlers reaching the final at the World Championships.

At 130kg, Riza KAYAALP (TUR) will look to defend his gold against Amin MIRZAZADEH (IRI) in the final, a repeat from last year.

Kayaalp, a three-time Olympic champion, defeated Lingzhe MENG (CHN), 3-1 and earned a Paris spot for Turkiye. Kayaalp got the third passivity but Meng did not ask for par terre and Kayaalp remained unmoved to win 3-1.

Mirzazadeh defeated Oscar PINO HINDS (CUB), 1-1, in the other semifinal after the two traded passivities. He also earned a Paris quota for Iran and will now look to become a world champion over Kayaalp.

In the two non-Olympic weight classes in action on Thursday, Rafig HUSEYNOV (AZE) returned to the World Championships final after two years as he defeated defending champion Burhan AKBUDAK (TUR), 5-5, in a thrilling semifinal after a third passivity.

Huseynov had defeated Akbudak to win gold in 2021 but since has lost twice to Akbudak. He was trailing 5-0 in the semifinal but Huseynov, who received the par terre advantage in the second period managed to get exposure and two points to cut Akbudak's lead to 5-3.

Akbudak was called passive again with 1:10 on the clock and Huseynov was called for a leg foul when he was attempting a lift. Azerbaijan challenged and Akbudak was guilty of blocking. The caution and two points put Huseynov ahead 5-5 on criteria, a lead he defended till the end.

To win his second world gold medal, Huseynov will take on Alireza MOHMADIPIANI (IRI) who also won on a third passvity. Mihail BRADU (MDA) was leding 1-1 on criteria when he was called passive for the second time and Mohamadipiani got a huge bodylock for four to win 5-1.

At 55kg, defending world champion Eldaniz AZIZLI (AZE) set up a repeat final against Nugzari TSURTSUMIA (GEO).

Azizli got a 3-1 win over Poya DAD MARZ (IRI) while Tsurtsumia defeated Jasurbek ORTIKBOEV (UZB), 7-4, in what was a repeat of the quarterfinal from 2022 which the Georgian won 5-2.