#WrestleKonya

Aliyev, Stadnik win gold at Islamic Solidarity Games

Wednesday, August 10, 2022 - 22:06 By Ali Feizasa

Share this article

KONYA, Turkey (August 10) -- Azerbaijan captured three gold medals while Iran won two on the first first day of the Islamic Solidarity Games in Konya, Turkey.

The 5th Islamic Solidarity Games, originally scheduled to be held in 2021, were postponed by a year due to the COVID-19 pandemic. About 4200 athletes from 56 countries have arrived in Konya to compete in 19 different sports and four para-sports.

Wrestling got underway at the Games on Wednesday with five freestyle and two women's weight categories.

In freestyle, Iran and Azerbaijan grabbed two gold medals each on the first day while Uzbekistan succeed to take one gold.

Olympic silver medalist and three-time world champ Haji ALIYEV (AZE) won the 65kg gold medal after beating Zelimkhan ABAKAROV (ALB) in the final to repeat his gold medal win from the 2017 Games in Baku.

However, it wasn't an easy run for him as he was in trouble in the quarterfinal against Tokyo Olympian Morteza GHIASI (IRI) but came from behind to win the match.

With less than 30 seconds to the end, Ghiasi led 4-1 but Aliyev hit a double and gut wrenches to earn an 8-4 victory.

Turan BAYRAMOV (AZE)Turan BAYRAMOV (AZE) defeated Mohammadsadegh FIROUZPOUR (IRI) in the 74kg final. (Photo: United World Wrestling)

In another close Azerbaijan-Iran bout, Turan BAYRAMOV (AZE) earned the second gold for Azerbaijan by a 2-1 victory over Mohammadsadegh FIROUZPOUR (IRI) in the 74kg final.

The first gold medal for Iran came from 86kg as three-time World Championships medalist Alireza KARIMI (IRI) dominated the final against Abubakr ABAKAROV (AZE).

Karimi controlled the bout by several takedowns and had a 9-0 lead when Abakarov signaled for a forfeit citing an injury. Karimi outscored his opponents 29-0 in the three bouts.

Mojtaba GOLEIJ (IRI)Mojtaba GOLEIJ (IRI) was crowned as the 97kg champion in Konya. (Photo: United World Wrestling)

2021 World bronze medalist Mojtaba GOLEIJ (IRI) doubled Iran's gold medal count with an easy win over local wrestler Mustafa SESSIZ (TUR) in the 97kg final.

Goleij opened the bout with two points when the Turkey wrestler failed to continue further due to an injury.

Tokyo Olympian Muminjon ABDULLAEV (UZB) won the first gold of the night as he downed Almaz SMANBEKOV (KGZ) in the 57kg final bout to put the gold in Uzbekistan's pocket.

Mariya STADNIK (AZE)Mariya STADNIK (AZE) won gold at 50kg in her first competition since the Tokyo Olympics. (Photo: United World Wrestling)

Stadnik's golden return

The two women’s wrestling weight classes in action on Wednesday were 50kg and 59kg.

10-time Olympic and World medalist Mariya Stadnik (AZE) made a return to competitive wrestling for the first time since Tokyo Olympics and it was golden.

The four-time Olympic medalist defended her gold medal from the 2017 Games with a brilliant performance.

Over the course of her four bouts, she had a 40-0 record and celebrated her title by a 10-0 victory over Jasmina IMMAEVA (UZB).

Odunayo ADEKUOROYE (NGR)Odunayo ADEKUOROYE (NGR) defended her 59kg gold in Konya. (Photo: United World Wrestling)

After winning gold less than a week ago at the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, Odunayo ADEKUOROYE (NGR) became the third wrestler of the day who defended her title from the 2017 edition of the Games.

Wrestling at 59kg, three-time world medalist Adekuoroye earned 27 points against her four rivals. Since there were five wrestlers in the weight class, it was conducted in a Nordic bracket.

Adekuoroye won the gold medal with Alyona KOLESNIK (AZE) winning the silver and Elmas CELIK (TUR) grabbing the bronze.

Wrestling at the Islamic Solidarity Games continues Thursday with 61kg, 70kg, 79kg, 92kg and 125 kg in freestyle and 53kg, 62kg and 72kg in women’s wrestling.

Alireza KARIMI (IRI)Alireza KARIMI (IRI) dominated the 86kg weight class to win gold. (Photo: United World Wrestling)

Day 1 Results

Freestyle

57kg
GOLD: Muminjon ABDULLAEV (UZB) df. Almaz SMANBEKOV (KGZ)

BRONZE: Rakhat KALZHAN (KAZ) df. Asil AL MAKTARI (YEM)
BRONZE: Aliabbas RZAZADE (AZE) df. Hikmatullo VOHIDOV (TJK)

65kg
GOLD: Haji ALIYEV (AZE) df. Zelimkhan ABAKAROV (ALB), via fall

BRONZE: Morteza GHIASI (IRI) df. Umidjon JALALOV (UZB), 4-2
BRONZE: Adlan ASKAROV (KAZ) df. Kerim HOJAKOV (TKM),

74kg
GOLD: Turan BAYRAMOV (AZE) df. Mohammadsadegh FIROUZPOUR (IRI), 2-1

BRONZE: Ikhtiyor NAVRUZOV (UZB) df. Ikkal ABDELK (ALG)
BRONZE: Fazli ERYILMAZ (TUR) df. Nurkozha KAIPANOV (KAZ)

86kg
GOLD: Alireza KARIMI (IRI) df. Abubakr ABAKAROV (AZE), 9-0 (victory via injury)

BRONZE: Osman GOCEN (TUR) df. Azizbek FAYZULLAEV (UZB), 11-6
BRONZE: Nurtilek KARYPBAEV (KGZ) df. Fateh BENFERDJALLAH (ALG)

97kg
GOLD: Mojtaba GOLEIJ (IRI) df. Mustafa SESSIZ (TUR), 2-0 (victory via injury)

BRONZE: Magomed IBRAGIMOV (UZB) df. Hemel YAYEV (TKM), 2-2
BRONZE: Mamed IBRAGIMOV (KAZ) df. Baisal KUBATOV (KGZ)

Women’s Wrestling

50kg
GOLD: Mariya STADNIK (AZE) df. Jasmina IMMAEVA (UZB), 10-0

BRONZE: Hamdi SARRA (TUN) df. Svetlana ANKICHEVA (KAZ)

59kg
Round 5: Odunayo ADEKUOROYE (NGR) df. Guldana BEKESH (KAZ)
Round 5: Elmas CELIK (TUR) df. Dilfuza AIMBETOVA (UZB)

GOLD: Odunayo ADEKUOROYE (NGR)
SILVER: Alyona KOLESNIK (AZE)
BRONZE: Elmas CELIK (TUR)

#development

Libya hosts its first coach and referee course

Monday, November 17, 2025 - 08:37 By United World Wrestling Press

Share this article

TRIPOLI, Libya (November 17) -- Libya hosted its first ever education courses for coaches and referees from October 27 to November 3 in Tripoli, Libya.

The courses were conducted in conjunction with United World Wrestling, Olympic Solidarity, Libya NOC and the Libya Wrestling Federation. The coaching course was led by Ahmed KHEDHRI. The referee course was led by Kamel BOUAZIZ.

"This course was considered a success, as we were fortunate to have tutors Khedhri and Bouaziz," Khaled EZANKULI, Secretary General of Libyan Olympic Committee, said. "These courses are a step in the Libyan Wrestling Federation's programs and is part of the joint work with Olympic Solidarity, United World Wrestling and the Libyan Olympic Committee. We consider it a step forward in developing the skills of local coaches, raising their level, and relying on their actual abilities to achieve fair competition."

Libya

During the first half of the program, the technical course for coaches was conducted from October 17 to 31. The course was attended by 21 coaches who participated in Level 1 Course [Introduction to Coaching and Safety]. The following topics were covered throughout the course: discovery games, introducing a new technique, coaching skills, giving feedback, risk management, age and developmental stage characteristics.

The coaches actively practiced and developed their skills through practical evaluations. There was special emphasis placed learning new techniques and applying them in a realistic training environment.

"The coaches in the course showed lot of enthusiasm, cooperation, and exchange of experiences which was reflected in the participants’ active engagement and positive interaction throughout both the theoretical and practical sessions," Khedhri said. "This contributed to enhancing the overall learning outcomes and helped participants acquire new knowledge and skills in a professional yet friendly environment."

The Introduction to Refereeing Course was conducted from November 1 to 3. This course was led by Bouaziz and had 18 participants. The participants learned the foundations of what it takes to be a great referee.

The areas covered during the course included: safety of the athletes, evaluation of holds, referee mechanics, positioning, and controlling the bout. 

"A good number of participants already had knowledge of wrestling," Bouaziz said. "They were very attentive to the explanations, which allowed me to pass on as much information as possible. The same was true for the theoretical part, where their participation and interest were remarkable."

The program was praised by the federation and the participants as well.

"I am very pleased with the success achieved by this course on both the technical and organizational levels. It represents an important step toward building a strong training foundation that will contribute to developing coaches and referees and raising the overall standard of wrestling in Libya," Nabil Abou CHAHMA, President of Libyan Wrestling Federation, said.