#WrestleBudapest19

Andreu Ortega and Goleij Seek Second U23 World Titles

Monday, October 28, 2019 - 20:54 By Taylor Miller

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Photo: Reineri ANDREU ORTEGA (CUB). / Photo: Kadir Caliskan

BUDAPEST, Hungary – Two men’s freestyle athletes and 2017 U23 World champions, Reineri ANDREU ORTEGA (CUB) at 57 kg and Mojtaba GOLEIJ (IRI) at 97 kg, seek to earn their second U23 World gold medals on Tuesday in Budapest, Hungary.

Both Andreu Ortega and Goleij won their first U23 World titles in 2017.

At 57 kg, Andreu Ortega will return to the U23 gold-medal finals, thanks to three wins on Monday in Budapest.

After taking out 2016 Junior World champion Afgan Smail KHASHALOV (AZE) in the first round and 2018 U23 World bronze medalist Wanhao ZOU (CHN) in the quarterfinals, Andreu Ortega battled 2019 Russian Nationals champion Ramiz GAMZATOV (RUS).

Trailing 1-0 at the break, Andreu Ortega used a takedown, trapped-arm gut and a four-point takedown for an 8-2 win and a spot in the finals.

Tomorrow for gold, Andreu Ortega will face 2019 Junior World bronze medalist and 2017 Cadet World bronze medalist Adlan ASKAROV (KAZ).

Askarov had several close battles on the day, including his semifinal match against Alireza Nosratolha SARLAK (IRI).

Sarlak led 3-1 late in the second period, but with less than 20 seconds left, Askarov scored a takedown to take the lead and secure a 3-3 win on criteria.

Photo of Mojtaba GOLEIJ (IRI). Photo: Kadir Caliskan

Wrestling at 97 kg, Goleij had a big day, opening his day with an 11-0 win against Lukas KRASAUSKAS (LTU). In the quarterfinals, Goleij took down 2018 U23 World champion Givi MATCHARASHVILI (GEO) in an 8-6 decision.

To move onto the finals, Goleij put together a decisive 8-2 win against Dzianis KHRAMIANKOU (BLR) in a rematch of the 2017 U23 World gold-medal match.

In his finals bout tomorrow, Goleij will face 2017 Junior World champion Shamil MUSAEV (RUS), who was dominant in his opening day of competition, picking up three-straight technical falls, including a 12-0 victory over Serik BAKYTKHANOV (KAZ) in the quarterfinals.  

Photo of Tariel GAPHRINDASHVILI (GEO). Photo: Kadir Caliskan

2018 Cadet World champion Turan BAYRAMOV (AZE) seeks his second-career World title, advancing to the 65 kg finals.

Bayramov, a 2019 Junior World bronze medalist and a 2017 Cadet World silver medalist, outlasted Ilman MUKHTAROV (FRA) in the semifinals tonight, scoring a second-period takedown to give him a 2-1 advantage.

For gold, Bayramov will take on 2018 Junior Asian champion Takuma TANIYAMA (JPN). In his semifinal, Taniyama held off Ernazar AKMATALIEV (KGZ) with a 4-3 decision.

Mirza SKHULUKHIA (GEO) locked up his second U23 World medal by battling his way to the 70 kg finals. He was a bronze medalist at the 2017 U23 World Championships.

For the 70 kg title, Skhulukhia will go head-to-head with Cherman VALIEV (RUS), who did not give up a single point in his first four matches of the tournament. He outscored his opponents on Monday, 39-0, including a 10-0 win over Amirhossein HOSSEINI (IRI) in the semifinals.

Wrestling in the gold bout at 79 kg is 2016 Junior World bronze medalist Tariel GAPHRINDASHVILI (GEO) and three-time World medalist Abubakr ABAKAROV (AZE).

Abakarov is a 2016 Cadet World champion, 2018 Junior World silver medalist and a 2019 Junior World bronze medalist.

The finals will take place at 6 p.m. on Tuesday. Fans can watch live on unitedworldwrestling.org.

Semifinals results
57 kg
Reineri ANDREU ORTEGA (CUB) df. Ramiz GAMZATOV (RUS), 8-2
Adlan ASKAROV (KAZ) df. Alireza SARLAK (IRI), 3-3

65 kg
Turan BAYRAMOV (AZE) df. Ilman MUKHTAROV (FRA), 2-1
Takuma TANIYAMA (JPN) df. Ernazar AKMATALIEV (KGZ), 4-3

70 kg
Mirza SKHULUKHIA (GEO) df. Oleksii BORUTA (UKR), 9-5
Cherman VALIEV (RUS) df. Amirhossein HOSSEINI (IRI), 10-0

79 kg
Tariel GAPHRINDASHVILI (GEO) df. Ramazan SARI (TUR), 10-6
Abubakr ABAKAROV (AZE) df. Ver Dev GULIA (IND), 8-1

97 kg
Mojtaba GOLEIJ (IRI) df. Dzianis KHRAMIANKOU (BLR), 8-2
Shamil MUSAEV (RUS) df. Danylo STASIUK (UKR), 13-2

Finals matchups
57 kg: Reineri ANDREU ORTEGA (CUB) vs. Adlan ASKAROV (KAZ)
65 kg: Turan BAYRAMOV (AZE) vs. Takuma TANIYAMA (JPN)
70 kg: Mirza SKHULUKHIA (GEO) vs. Cherman VALIEV (RUS)
79 kg: Tariel GAPHRINDASHVILI (GEO) vs. Abubakr ABAKAROV (AZE)
97 kg: Mojtaba GOLEIJ (IRI) vs. Shamil MUSAEV (RUS)

#development

Guinea Bissau Hosts Successful REDT as Part of Dakar 2026 Youth Olympics Preparation

Friday, April 17, 2026 - 08:43 By United World Wrestling Press

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BISSAU, Guinea-Bissau (April 17) -- As part of the ongoing efforts to strengthen wrestling development in Africa and in preparation for the Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games, the Regional Education and Development Tournament (REDT) for West Africa was successfully held in Bissau, Guinea-Bissau, from April 6 to12, 2026.

Olympic Solidarity and United World Wrestling worked with the Guinea-Bissau Wrestling to organise the event that brought together 10 National Federations from the region: Benin, Burkina Faso, Côte d’Ivoire, The Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Niger, Senegal, Sierra Leone, and host nation Guinea-Bissau.

The REDT tournament was designed as a multi-dimensional development platform, combining education, capacity building, and competition.

Prior to the competition phase, a series of structured activities were implemented including a training camp for wrestlers, aimed at improving technical performance. Educational sessions for coaches and administrators, delivered by UWW Development Officer Vincent AKA and a referee course, conducted by UWW Educator Charles VILLET, were also conducted.

These initiatives contributed to the harmonization of technical standards and reinforced the operational capacity of participating federations.

GBS

Competition

The competition included Men's and Women's Freestyle and Beach Wrestling across U17 and Senior categories at two different locations. Freestyle was conducted at National School of Physical Education and Sports (ENEFD) and Beach Wrestling was held at the Lino Correia Stadium.

The tournament was conducted in accordance with UWW regulations, with approved competition mats and the use of the Athena system for registration and licensing.

Impact

A few crucial outcomes were achieved through the tournament including identifying and developing young talent ahead of Dakar 2026, strengthening regional cooperation among National Federations, capacity building for coaches, referees, and administrators and promotion and integration of Beach Wrestling as a strategic discipline.

Despite the success of the event and the strong performances of athletes, the need for enhanced institutional and financial support remains a key priority. The President of the Guinea-Bissau Wrestling Federation João SOARES emphasized the importance of sustained investment to ensure continued progress and international competitiveness.

The presence of national authorities, including the Prime Minister Ilidio VIEIRA TE and National Olympic Committee President Fernando ARLETE, highlighted the recognition of wrestling as a strategic sport contributing to national development and visibility.

The REDT tournament represents a significant milestone in the regional roadmap toward Dakar 2026. The next steps include continued preparation for the Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games, participation in upcoming African Wrestling Championships, expansion of Beach Wrestling development initiatives and further implementation of UWW education and development programs.

The successful organization of the REDT West Africa Tournament in Bissau demonstrates the effectiveness of UWW’s development strategy in the region. By combining education, capacity building, and competition, the event has contributed to building a strong foundation for the future of wrestling in Africa.

GBS

Results

The host nation, Guinea-Bissau, delivered an outstanding performance, finishing first overall with a total of 25 medals - 17 Golds, 4 Silvers and 4 Bronzes.

Freestyle (Both Men's & Women's)

15 medals (12 Golds, 2 Silvers, 1 Bronze)

Team Rankings:
1st place: Guinea-Bissau
2nd place: Benin
3rd place: Ghana

Beach Wrestling

10 medals (5 Golds, 2 Silvers, 3 Bronzes)

Team Rankings:

1st place: Guinea-Bissau
2nd place: Senegal
3rd place: Benin