#WrestleTirana

Assetuly wins Kazakhstan's first U23 world title

Saturday, October 28, 2023 - 23:07 By Vinay Siwach

Share this article

TIRANA, Albania (October 28) -- This year keeps getting better for Kazakhstan wrestling. A month after the country got its first Freestyle senior world champion in Belgrade, Sultan ASSETULY (KAZ) on Saturday became the first wrestler from his country to win the U23 World Championships.

The former Asian champion won the gold medal at 63kg by beating Mustafa YILDIRIM (TUR) 2-1 in the 67kg gold medal bout in Tirana, Albania. 

Yildirim got the first par terre advantage which Assetuly managed to defend well. When Assetuly got the activity point in the second period, he lifted Yildirim and tried a throw. Though he did not get a correct throw, Assetuly got Yildirim to stepout of the zone and get one point.

Assetuly's 2-1 lead after that exchange remained the final score of the bout as he clinched the historic title.

"I am very happy to be the first champion from Kazakhstan," Assetuly said. "I am not going to stop here, I will work hard and win the senior world title. I got this medal in a very tough way."

Sultan ASSETULY (KAZ)Sultan ASSETULY (KAZ) celebrates after winning the 67kg gold medal. (Photo: UWW / Ulug Bugra Han Degirmenci)

Out of his five wins for the gold medal, Assetuly's two wins were 1-1. His opening bout against Oleg KHALILOV (UKR) almost ended his run as he survived a close stepout but the match took a toll on him.

"Every single match, every single minute and second were really tough," he said. "The first match was the hardest. I won 1-1, but at the end of the match, I almost stepped out. After that match, I couldn't even walk for 30 minutes."

That win was followed by a 9-0 thrashing of Steve MOMILIA (ITA) to set up a quarterfinal against former U17 world champion Muslim IMADAEV (AIN). Assetuly once again struggled but managed to beat Imadaev 1-1. He humbled Hasan MAMMADLI (AZE) 11-0 in the semifinal.

Despite his golden run, Assetuly did rue the fact that a champion belt is not awarded at the U23 level.

"I want the champion belt, they don't give us belts here though."

Assetuly, a Taraz native, has idolized 1980 Olympic champion Zhaksylyk USHKEMPIROV. He will now look to make it to the Olympics himself as one of the contenders for the 67kg spot on the Kazakhstan team along with Meirzhan SHERMAKHANBET (KAZ) who recently won the 67kg silver at the Asian Games.

"I still have a chance to qualify for the Olympics," he said. "I will compete at national championships. If I win there, I will get the chance to go to the qualifying event [in Bishkek next April]. If I get the Olympic spot there, I can go. Although, even if I get the Olympic quota, I will have to keep working hard, because the coaches still have the right to change the athlete."

Aues GONIBOV (AIN)Aues GONIBOV (AIN) defeated Alperen BERBER (TUR) 4-0. (Photo: UWW / Kadir Caliskan)

There was more frustration in store for Turkiye as U20 world champion Alperen BERBER (TUR) fell to senior world bronze medalist Aues GONIBOV (AIN) in the 82kg final.

The strength difference between the two wrestlers was visible as Berber could never actually cement himself against Gonibov who got two passivity points and a takedown to score a 4-0 win.

Berber, just 18 years of age, already has U17 and U20 world titles to his name to go along the multiple European medals.

Pavel HLINCHUK (AIN)Pavel HLINCHUK (AIN) defends from par terre against Mustafa OLGUN (TUR). (Photo: UWW / Ulug Bugra Han Degirmenci)

If that was not enough, Pavel HLINCHUK (AIN) denied Mustafa OLGUN (TUR) the gold medal at 97kg in a thrilling final. Hlinkchuk won the gold-medal bout 4-3.

The 2021 U20 world champion was making a return to international competition after two years and showed no signs of rust, dominating his opponents till the final.

After getting the par terre point, Olgun scored a stepout to lead 2-0 but Hlinchuk scored a turn from par terre to claim a 3-2 lead. The Turkish wrestler scored a stepout with eight seconds left but that only made it a 3-3 criteria lead for Hlinchuk. Turkiye challenged, asking for a takedown but was only given a stepout on review. The lost challenge added another point to Hlinchuk's score.

Anvar ALLAKHIAROV (AIN)Anvar ALLAKHIAROV (AIN) scores a four-pointer against Romeo BERIDZE (GEO) in the 60kg final. (Photo: UWW / Kadir Caliskan)

Another U20 world champion from 2021 made it to the top of the podium as Anvar ALLAKHIAROV (AIN) put behind the disappointment of the senior World Championships to beat Romeo BERIDZE (GEO), 10-0, and win the 60kg gold medal in Tirana.

The 2021 U230 world champion got the par terre advantage and as he was lifting Beridze, he dropped the Georgian on his back with control to score four points. Georgia challenged the call but saw the original ruling stand. One point was added to Allakhiarov's score for the lost challenge before he finished the bout in two minutes and 37 seconds with a powerful duck-under for another four points.

Dmitrii ADAMOV (AIN)Dmitrii ADAMOV (AIN) won the 72kg final over Irfan MIRZOIEV (UKR). (Photo: UWW / Kadir Caliskan)

At 72kg, Dmitrii ADAMOV (AIN) won the gold medal as he defeated Irfan MIRZOIEV (UKR), 9-3, in the final. Mirzoiev was in exceptional form on Friday but could not repeat it against Adamov in the final.

Mirzoiev did start off on a strong note, scoring a counter stepout with caution against Adamov for fleeing. Down 2-0, Adamov was going to get a passivity call but he scored a takedown as the referee signaled for passivity.

That completely changed the final as Adamov got three turns from that takedown to lead 8-2. He scored a stepout in the second period to make it 9-2 and despite a late stepout from Mirzoiev in the final seconds, Adamov won the gold comfortably.

sd

RESULTS

60kg
GOLD: Anvar ALLAKHIAROV (AIN) df. Romeo BERIDZE (GEO), 10-0

BRONZE: SUMIT (UWW) df. Yonaiker MARTINEZ (VEN), 4-3
BRONZE: Mert ILBARS (TUR) df. Aibek SABYRBEKOV (KAZ), 9-1

67kg
GOLD: Sultan ASSETULY (KAZ) df. Mustafa YILDIRIM (TUR), 2-1

BRONZE: Muslim IMADAEV (AIN) df. Hasan MAMMADLI (AZE), 12-10
BRONZE: HARUTO YABE (JPN) df. Artur JEREMEJEV (EST), 8-0

72kg
GOLD: Dmitrii ADAMOV (AIN) df. Irfan MIRZOIEV (UKR), 9-3

BRONZE: Ruslan NURULLAYEV (AZE) df. Michael PORTMANN (SUI), 3-1
BRONZE: Shant KHACHATRYAN (ARM) df. Adilkhan NURLANBEKOV (KGZ), via fall (9-0)

82kg
GOLD: Aues GONIBOV (AIN) df. Alperen BERBER (TUR), 4-0 

BRONZE: Karlo KODRIC (CRO) df. Ruslan ABDIIEV (UKR), 3-0
BRONZE: Emad ABOUELATTA (EGY) df. Karen KHACHATRYAN (ARM), 3-2

97kg
GOLD: Pavel HLINCHUK (AIN) df. Mustafa OLGUN (TUR), 4-3

BRONZE: Lucas LAZOGIANIS (GER) df. Hayk KHLOYAN (ARM), 5-3
BRONZE: Yuri NAKAZATO (JPN) df. Murad AHMADIYEV (AZE), 3-1

Semifinals

55kg
GOLD: Iskhar KURBAYEV (KAZ) vs. Giorgi TOKHADZE (GEO)

SF 1: Giorgi TOKHADZE (GEO) df. Farid SADIKHLI (AZE), 10-0
SF 2: Iskhar KURBAYEV (KAZ) df. Adem UZUN (TUR), 9-1

63kg
GOLD: Rakhman TAVMURZAEV (AIN) vs. Hleb MAKARANKA (AIN)

SF 1: Hleb MAKARANKA (AIN) df. Chiezo MARUYAMA (JPN), 3-3
SF 2:Rakhman TAVMURZAEV (AIN) df. Vitalie ERIOMENCO (MDA), 7-5

77kg
GOLD: Khasay HASANLI (AZE) vs. Alexandrin GUTU (MDA)

SF 1: Alexandrin GUTU (MDA) df. Yryskeldi MAKSATBEK UULU (KGZ), 12-2
SF 2: Khasay HASANLI (AZE) df. Khvicha ANANIDZE (GEO), 9-0

87kg
GOLD: Matej MANDIC (CRO) vs. Magomed MURTAZALIEV (AIN)

SF 1: Magomed MURTAZALIEV (AIN) df. Exauce MUKUBU (NOR), 7-2
SF 2: Matej MANDIC (CRO) df. Waltteri LATVALA (FIN), 11-0

130kg
GOLD: Muhammet BAKIR (TUR) vs. Mykhailo VYSHNYVETSKYI (UKR)

SF 1: Mykhailo VYSHNYVETSKYI (UKR) df. Sarkhan MAMMADOV (AZE), 1-1
SF 2: Muhammet BAKIR (TUR) df. Razmik KURDYAN (ARM), 4-2

#WrestleBudapest

Takahashi marks return from injury with Ranking Series gold

Friday, July 18, 2025 - 20:08 By Vinay Siwach

Share this article

BUDAPEST, Hungary (July 18) -- The last memories of Kota TAKHASHI (JPN) on the mat were painful. He had a heavily strapped right knee and was wrestling at the Non-Olympic World Championships in Tirana last year. He was torn.

A surgery and nine months later, Takahashi returned to international wrestling at the Budapest Ranking Series on Friday and captured the 74kg gold medal.

The world U23 champion was the third gold medalist from Japan in Budapest after Takara SUDA (JPN) and Yoshinosuke AOYAGI (JPN) won at 61kg and 70kg, respectively.

In the other two weight classes that were in action on Friday, Arsenii DZHIOEV (AZE) and Trent HIDLAY (USA) captured the gold medal at 86kg and 92kg as Freestyle came to a close at the Ranking Series.

Takahashi, who won the Asian Championships gold in 2024, made himself a gold-medal threat for the World Championships in Zagreb with an impressive performance that saw him score wins over Tajmuraz SALKAZANOV (SVK) and David CARR (USA).

"This was my first international competition since my right knee surgery, and I wanted to show my true abilities," Takahashi said. "I'm very happy that I was able to win by thoroughly executing my tackles and aggressive wrestling style."

Takahashi was up against Salkazanov in his first match and began by blasting two double-leg attacks to race to a 4-0 lead. But the second period was not the same as he was put on the activity clock and Salkazanov cut the lead with a takedown during that.

Just when it seemed that Salkazanov can take the lead, Takahashi hit a low leg-attack and converted it into takedown to make the gap 6-3. Salkazanov did not let it go and scored a stepout with nine seconds left.

Takahashi was happy to not engage in those nine seconds, and happily gave a stepout and a caution. He won 6-6 and set up a quarterfinal against Murad KURAMAGOMEDOV (HUN). He did not need any of those attacks as he managed a 3-0 win.

The semifinal against Carr was a challenging one as Takahashi struggled to keep his conditioning for six minutes. He opened with a stepout and Carr was called for fleeing. As Carr used a chest wrap to stop Takahashi's double-leg attack, he fell on his back with hand opens. Only Takahashi was awarded two points which made his lead 4-0. Two stepouts later, it was 6-0.

Carr got going in the final two minutes as he scored two takedowns inside 20 seconds to make it 6-4. So far, Takahashi had remained low in his stance and cancelled Carr's long reach. However, his defense began to break up.

As Carr tried to turn Takahashi after the second takedown, Takahashi blocked the turn and got two points. Carr scored a reversal to make it 8-5. He then made it 8-7 with 10 seconds remaining but that was the final scoring action of the bout.

"Car is very aggressive, and I am also good at aggressive wrestling, but in the second half, my opponent's attacks were superior to mine. I ended up conceding points," he said. "I think that was my mistake. In the second period, I tried to attack, but the opponent kept attacking repeatedly. I ended up just defending, and that was the reason I lost points. I need to be more aggressive and attack more."

Takahashi's aggressive wrestling was once again on show in the final against another former world U23 champion Magomed KHANIEV (AZE). He scored two takedowns and defending so well that Khaniev was not able to score a point and Takahashi won gold medal, 4-0.

But the Japanese accepted the chinks in his armor and has decided to work on them before the World Championships where he knows that the competition will be even tougher.

"Similar story against Salkazanov. I want to review my stamina to maintain an aggressive attack throughout the six minutes without breaking my stance, and keep solid stance," he said. "In the second half, my desire to attack weakened, and I ended up being attacked by the opponent, leading to them scoring points. I need to improve on that."

Carr returned for the bronze medal bout and defeated Salkazanov 4-4, avenging his previous to the Slovak from Zagreb.

Trent HIDLAY (USA)Trent HIDLAY (USA) defeated Miriani MAISURADZE (GEO) 7-2 in the 92kg final. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kadir Caliskan)

Trent HIDLAY (USA), a 86kg silver medalist last year in Budapest, upgraded to gold medal after beating world silver medalist Miriani MAISURADZE (GEO), 7-4, in the 92kg final.

Hidlay was in red-hot form the whole day as he began with a win over Abubakr ABAKAROV (AZE)  and then posted a 10-0 win over Krizstian ANGYAL (HUN) in the quarterfinal. He began the semifinal against Dauren KURUGLIEV (GRE) with a powerful double-leg takedown.

As Kurugliev fell, he landed on his knee and suffered an injury so bad that he was unable to walk off the mat. Hidlay reached the final after the injury forced Kurugliev to stop.

It was Maisuradze who opened the scoring in the final with a snapdown to takedown for two points but Hidlay answered with two stepouts and the Georgian led 2-2 on criteria at the break.

Hidlay opened the second period with a takedown to take a 4-2 lead and then continued to put pressure on Maisuradze. It paid off as he scored another takedown on the edge to lead 6-2. Georgia challenged that both wrestlers were already out of the zone and it should be one point. But the challenge was lost, making it 7-2 for Hidlay with 1:47 left on the clock.

That was all in the bout as Hidlay captured the gold and put his name in contention for the gold medal at the upcoming World Championships.

At 86kg, Arsenii DZHIOEV (AZE) was the gold medalist after European silver medalist Mahamedkhabib KADZIMAHAMEDAU (UWW) pulled out of the final injured.

Kadzimahamedau suffered a knee injury in the semifinal against Ali SAVADKOUHI (IRI) as the Iranian did not let go off his knee despite it turning more than 90 degrees.

RESULTS

74kg
GOLD: Kota TAKAHASHI (JPN) df. Magomed KHANIEV (AZE), 4-0

BRONZE: David CARR (USA) df. Taimuraz SALKAZANOV (SVK), 4-4
BRONZE: Magomedrasul ASLUEV (BRN) df. Yeldos KUANYSHBAY (KAZ), 8-2

86kg
GOLD:  Arsenii DZHIOEV (AZE) df. Mahamedkhabib KADZIMAHAMEDAU (UWW), via inj. def.

BRONZE: Osman GOCEN (TUR) df. Boris MAKOEV (SVK), 3-2
BRONZE: Ali SAVADKOUHI (IRI) df. Nurzhan ISSAGALIYEV (KAZ), 3-0 

92kg
GOLD: Trent HIDLAY (USA) df. Miriani MAISURADZE (GEO), 7-4

BRONZE: Benjamin HONIS (ITA) df. Musza ARSUNKAEV (HUN), via fall (5-5)
BRONZE: Abubakr ABAKAROV (AZE) df. Dauren KURUGLIEV (GRE), via inj. def.