#WrestleBaku, #WrestleParis

Aliyev leads as Azerbaijan wins six Paris 2024 quota at European qualifier

Sunday, April 7, 2024 - 22:29 By Vinay Siwach

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BAKU, Azerbaijan (April 7) -- Haji ALIYEV (AZE) on the mat in front of a packed stadium in Baku for an Olympic spot. The fans cheered every time he scored. It only got louder as he inched towards victory. As the final whistle blew, Aliyev stretched his arms and fell on the mat even as the National Gymnastics Arena in Baku was defeaning.

Two-time Olympic medalist Aliyev, 32, qualified Azerbaijan for the Paris Olympics at 65kg with an entertaining 6-4 victory over European champion Islan DUDAEV (ALB). Aliyev was back.

Since winning the silver medal in the Tokyo Olympics, Aliyev has not dominated the 65kg weight class. He finished fifth at the 2022 World Championships and eighth at the 2023 edition.

Azerbaijan was losing confidence in its star as the Paris Olympics came closer with it still to earning a qualification. Aliyev was under pressure and his conditioning was being questioned. And a few youngsters were knocking on the door.

Yet, Aliyev entered the European OG Qualifier in Baku as the favorite. In front of the home crowd and as the captain of the Azerbaijan Freestyle team, Aliyev had to deliver.

After seeing off Khamzat ARSAMERZOUEV (FRA) and Niurgun SKRIABIN (AIN), Aliyev faced Dudaev for Paris qualification. Dudaev won the European Championships in Bucharest in February after defeating Gadzhimurad RASHIDOV (AIN).

He threatened to beat Aliyev, leading 3-0 at the break. But Aliyev managed to get on a single leg and score a takedown to close the gap to 3-2. He again hit the same shot and got a takedown before using the lace to make it 6-3. Dudaev tried hard but Aliyev was too good with his defense and only gave up a stepout for one up.

Azerbaijan will most likely give Aliyev the spot in Paris 2024, his third in his career. Aliyev will be looking to win his third Olympic medal after a bronze medal in Rio 2016 and a silver in Tokyo 2020.

The second Paris 2024 quota at 65kg was won by Goderdzi DZEBISASHVILI (GEO) who defeated Maxim SACULTAN (MDA), 2-1, in the other semifinal. The two wrestlers exchanged passivity but Sacultan was put on the activity clock in the second period, giving Dzebisashvili the criteria win. 

Aliyev's win was one of the five that Azerbaijan had to become the first country to win all six Freestyle Olympic quotas. Apart from Aliyev, Aliabbas RZAZADE (AZE), Turan BAYRAMOV (AZE), Osman NURMAGOMEDOV (AZE), Giorgi MESHVILDISHVILI (AZE) earned quotas.

Rzazade seemed in a hurry to be off the mat as he opened the scoring against former European champion Vladimir EGOROV (MKD). He kicked off the bout with a stunning ankle pick for a takedown in the first five seconds of the bout and tried to soak in the Baku pressure by pacing around the mat as Egorov took time to return to the center.

In the second period, Rzazade scored a stepout when Egorov was on the activity clock, giving Rzazade a 4-0 lead. Egorov scored a takedown and was given one more point for Rzazade's fleeing at the end but the Azerbaijan wrestler won 4-3 to win the quota at 57kg.

Former world bronze medalist Aryan TSIUTRYN (AIN) defeated Tokyo Olympian Georgi VANGELOV (BUL), 7-3, in a one-sided semifinal to earn the second quota at 57kg.

At 86kg, Nurmagomedov showed his skills to beat Vasyl MYKHAILOV (UKR), 4-1, to earn a qualification. He also defeated Ramazan RAMAZANOV (BUL) in the quarterfinals.

Wrestling internationally for the first time since 2021, Olympic and world bronze medalist Artur NAIFONOV (AIN) confirmed his Paris 2024 spot after a gritty 4-0 win over Vladimeri GAMKRELIDZE (GEO). In the quarterfinal, Naifonov held off European champion Dauren KURUGLIEV (GRE) 2-1.

Giorgi MESHVILDISHVILI (AZE) confirmed the qualification at 125kg after he defeated Alen KHUBULOV (BUL), 7-0. The other qualification went to Dzianis KHRAMIANKOU (AIN) who defeated Kamil KOSCIOLEK (POL), 9-2.

A last-minute replacement for Abdulrashid SADULAEV (IND), Alikhan ZHABRAILOV (AIN) still got the job done of qualifying after he defeated Illia ARCHAIA (UKR), 11-0 to earn the Paris 2024 quota.

The second spot at 97kg was won by Aliaksandr HUSHTYN (AIN) after his opponent Radoslaw BARAN (POL) pulled out due to an injury he suffered in the quarterfinal.

At 74kg, Turan BAYRAMOV (AZE) did let the ghost of past affect him as he held on to a 8-8 win over Frank CHAMIZO (ITA) in a thrilling bout.

Chamizo trailed 8-6 but got awarded two caution points and almost scored a takedown which was reverted on challenge and Bayramov got a criteria win and an Olympic quota.

Tokyo Olympic silver medalist Magomedkhabib KADIMAGOMEDOV (AIN) held on to a 3-2 win over European champion Taimuraz SALKAZANOV (SVK) to win the quota. All five points were technical points.

 

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RESULTS

57kg Paris Qualification Bouts
SF 1: Aliabbas RZAZADE (AZE) df. Vladimir EGOROV (MKD), 4-3
SF 2: Aryan TSIUTRYN (AIN) df. Georgi VANGELOV (BUL), 7-3

65kg Paris Qualification Bouts
SF 1: Goderdzi DZEBISASHVILI (GEO) df. Maxim SACULTAN (MDA), 2-1
SF 2: Haji ALIYEV (AZE) df. Islam DUDAEV (ALB), 6-4

74kg Paris Qualification Bouts
SF 1: Turan BAYRAMOV (AZE) df. Frank CHAMIZO (ITA), 8-8
SF 2: Magomedkhabib KADIMAGOMEDOV (AIN) df. Taimuraz SALKAZANOV (SVK), 3-2

86kg Paris Qualification Bouts
SF 1: Artur NAIFONOV (AIN) df. Vladimeri GAMKRELIDZE (GEO), 4-0
SF 2: Osman NURMAGOMEDOV (AZE) df. Vasyl MYKHAILOV (UKR), 4-1 

97kg Paris Qualification Bouts
SF 1: Alikhan ZHABRAILOV (AIN) df. Illia ARCHAIA (UKR), 11-0
SF 2: Aliaksandr HUSHTYN (AIN) df. Radoslaw BARAN (POL), via inj. def.

125kg Paris Qualification Bouts
SF 1: Dzianis KHRAMIANKOU (AIN) df. Kamil KOSCIOLEK (POL), 9-2
SF 2: Giorgi MESHVILDISHVILI (AZE) df. Alen KHUBULOV (BUL), 7-0 

#WrestleBaku

Stage set for thrilling Greco-Roman World Cup in Baku

Wednesday, November 2, 2022 - 14:12 By Vinay Siwach

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BAKU, Azerbaijan (November 2) -- For the first time, the top teams from the World Championships will get a chance to challenge a team comprising of stars from around the world.

As the teams arrive from Baku for the Greco-Roman World Cup after a gap of three years, a new dimension will see the tournament include the All-World team comprising four silver and three bronze medalists from the Belgrade World Championships.

Not only this team will be the favorite to win the top spot at the World Cup, but it also offers match-ups that fans miss out on during other tournaments. The All-World team is clubbed with Azerbaijan and Serbia in Group B.

Serbia, however, will miss the tournament after a number of COVID-19 infections in the team. Azerbaijan and the All-World team will receive automatic wins and the winner of the Azerbaijan-All-Star clash will wrestle in the final.

Group B has Turkey, Iran and Kyrgyzstan and will see a tough battle for the top spot in the group. The second-placed teams from each group will wrestle for the third place on the podium.

Led by two-time silver medalists Nugzari TSURTSUMIA (GEO) and Leri ABULADZE (GEO), the All-World team has three Georgian wrestlers with Joni KHETSURIANI (GEO) also making the cut.

Bronze medalists Aidos SULTANGALI (KAZ), Andrii KULYK (UKR) and Mantas KNYSTAUTAS (LTU) will also give tough competition to the host wrestler.

Zoltan LEVAI (HUN), who had a breakout tournament with a silver medal at 77kg, would like to continue his form at the World Cup. Another silver medalist is Jalgasbay BERDIMURATOV (UZB) who almost collected the gold at 82kg in Belgrade.

Alex KESSIDIS (SWE) at 87kg and Nikoloz KAKHELASHVILI (ITA) at 97kg were late additions to the team but would like to make the most of the opportunity.

For the hosts, two young stars -- Nihat MAMMADLI (AZE) and Gurban GURBANOV (AZE) -- will share the responsibility of the team. Beka KANDELAKI (AZE) will provide the experience for Azerbaijan.

Mammadli, who lost in the U23 World Championships final at 60kg, will try to announce his name in the big league by beating Sultangali while Abuladze can face a stiff challenge from Ziya BABASHOV (AZE).

With the dual running close, the 67kg bout between Namaz RUSTAMOV (AZE) and Khetsuriani will hold extra significance before Kulyk takes on Eljan MAMMADOV (AZE) at 72kg.

A top battle between Gurbanov and Levai will be crucial to decide the winner of the match-up as Levai will look to beat Gurbanov to remove some pressure off Berdimuratov who takes on Nasir HASANOV (AZE).

At 87kg, Kessidis has Murad AHMADIYEV (AZE) and Kakhelashvili faces Zamir MAGOMEDOV (AZE) at 97kg. The epic clash between Kandelaki and Knystautas will be the last of the dual.

Even if Azerbaijan lose the early bouts, it won't be surprising to see it cover the lead in the latter half of the dual and secure a spot in the final.

Group B

A blockbuster clash will open the World Cup when Turkey and Iran collide for the opening match in Baku.

Iran team is a mix of youth and experience and will be a tough test for Turkey. With wrestlers who were at the U23 World Championships two weeks ago, Iran will be hoping to outplace Turkey.

At 55kg, U23 world champ Poya DAD MARZ (IRI) will look to win his bouts against Ekrem OZTURK (TUR) and give an early lead to his team.

The 60kg battle will be a high-stake bout as Mehdi MOHSEN NEJAD (IRI) looks to avenge his heartbreaking loss against Kerem KAMAL (TUR) from Belgrade. Mohsen Nejad was leading the bout when Kamal pinned him. Kamal went on to win the U23 world title in Pontevedra. Spain after mission out on the senior world medal.

A former U23 world silver medalist Ahmet UYAR (TUR) has U20 world champion Iman Khoon MOHAMMADI (IRI) and a win here will be crucial for both teams before moving to 67kg where Murat FIRAT (TUR) takes on U20 and U23 world champion Seyed SOHRABI (IRI).

Experienced wrestler and world bronze medalist Selcuk CAN (TUR) will be the favorite against Amir ABDI (IRI) at 72kg.

At 77kg, Asian champion Mohammad Reza MOKHTARI (TUR) and world bronze medalist Yunus BASAR (TUR) clash and could well change the momentum of the dual for their team.

World champion Burhan AKBUDAK (TUR) can carry the momentum for Turkey as he clashes against Alireza MOHMADIPIANI (IRI) at 82kg and will be the favorite. His win becomes more important since the next weight class will see Abolfazl CHOUBANI (IRI) take on Ali CENGIZ (TUR), a bout that can tilt in any direction.

At 97kg, two-time world champion Metehan BASAR (TUR) continues his journey in a new weight class and will be tested by either Ali ABEDIDARZI (IRI) or Mehdi BALIHAMZEHDEH (IRI) before the dual moves to 130kg in which former world champion Aliakbar YOUSOFI (IRI) will prepare for upcoming star Osman YILDIRIM (TUR).

Kyrgyzstan is the third team of the group and will take on Iran in the evening session on Saturday. While its world champions Zholoman SHARSHENBEKOV (KGZ) and Akzhol MAKHMUDOV (KGZ) are missing, Kyrgyzstan can well be the party spoiler for the other teams.

Most of the team is compromised of young blood but U23 Asian champions Adilkhan NURLANBEKOV (KGZ) at 77kg and Akylbek TALANTBEKOV (KGZ) at 82kg will fancy their chances to get wins for Kyrgyzstan. The team also has Olympian Atabek AZISBEKOV (KGZ) wrestling at 97kg.