Bakir defends U17 World title at home

Tuesday, August 1, 2023 - 21:09 By Vinay Siwach

ISTANBUL (August 1) -- Cemal BAKIR (TUR) and SURAJ (IND) won their first U17 World Championships title on the same day in Rome. Just over a year later, both had a chance to win consecutive gold medals at the U17 Worlds.

However, only one did.

In Istanbul, Bakir claimed his second straight U17 World title at 110kg while Suraj, who created history by ending India's 32-year Greco-Roman title drought, suffered a devastating loss in the final on Tuesday, the second day of the U17 World Championships.

Bakir's dominance in the 110kg weight class was evident on day one as he began with a strong 10-0 win over Bekzhan ISMAGULOV (KAZ) before beating Mohamed AHMED (EGY) 4-1 in the quarterfinals. He moved closer to the gold medal when he scored a massive 4-2 win over U17 Asian champion Amirhossein ABDEVALI (IRI) in the semifinal.

Backed by a loud home crowd, Bakir, who hails from Basaksehir where the event is held, wrestled U17 Asian silver medalist RONAK (IND) for the gold and looked in complete control of the bout for four minutes.

After both wrestlers initially hesitated to go all out, Bakir managed to pressure Ronak outside the zone and get a stepout for one point. Ronak was called for fleeing, adding another point to Bakir's score.

The Turkish wrestler held on to the 2-0 lead for the rest of the bout as in a rare occurrence in a Greco-Roman bout, the referee did not call for inactivity.

Bakir celebrated with the fans in the stands and gave Turkiye a golden start to the tournament at home.

Jordyn RANEY (USA) celebrates after winning the gold medal at the U17 World Championships. (Photo: UWW / Kadir Caliskan)

For Suraj to achieve the same, he had to beat Jordyn RANEY (USA) in the 55kg final. Both wrestlers had been equally dominant on Monday with Raney beating U17 Asia champion Mohammadreza GHOLAMI (IRI) in the semifinal in dramatic fashion, scoring seven points in the last 20 seconds. Suraj defeated home favorite Halil CINAR (TUR) 6-0 in the other semifinal. But nothing worked for Suraj in the final as Raney, like on Monday, scored at will and big.

To reach the final, Raney defeated Ahmed SHABAN (EGY) and Shu Wei CHUNG (TPE) via technical superiority and scored a clutch 8-6 win over returning champion Aytjan KHALMAKHANOV (UZB) in the quarterfinals.

In the final, both wrestlers played the waiting game in the first period with Raney scoring a stepout for a 1-0 lead. As soon as the whistle blew to mark the start of the second period, Raney executed a pro-level arm-drag to which Suraj had no answer but to give up.

"My coach from Illinois RTC sent a text message to my dad saying he [Suraj] will be game in that second period," Raney said. "I knew my drag. As soon as he came in, I got the drag and he was straight to the mad and go behind."

Suraj got a takedown to cut the lead to 3-2 but Raney answered with a headlock for two and another headlock for four points to extend his lead to 9-2. He continued the action and scored a turn to finish the match 11-2. India's challenge was as clueless as Suraj in the final and a lost challenge gave one more point to Raney.

"The headlock came through. Everyone thinks it's a kid move, trash move but still works," he said. "I knew he was a very tough opponent and I knew he was great on top so I made sure my defense was on point."

With the gold medal, Raney became only the third U17 world champion from the United States since the tournament restarted in 2011. Cohlton SCHULTZ (USA) won in 2017 and Joel ADAMS (USA) won the title in 2022.

"It's awesome and encouraging other kids," he said. "Next year, we'll do better."

Payam AHMADI BALOOTAKI (IRI) upgraded his bronze to gold at the U17 World Championships. (Photo: UWW / Kadir Caliskan)

Iran's returning bronze medalist Payam AHMADI BALOOTAKI (IRI) upgraded the bronze from Rome to gold in Istanbul as he defeated returning silver medalist and U17 Asian champion Shakhzod RUZIOKHUNOV (UZB) 4-0 in the 48kg final. Both wrestlers were medalists at last year's U17 World Championships at 45kg.

Almost two months back, Balootaki had suffered a shocking loss to Beknur MUKAN (KAZ) in the opening round at the U17 Asian Championships, a year after he defeated Mukan 9-0 to win the bronze in Rome.

Balootaki seemed to have recovered from that U17 Asian loss as he began his competition on Monday with back-to-back technical superiority wins over Maksim BRADZIAK (AIN) and Haruku SHIINA (JPN). He defeated Elnar ZIYADOV (AZE) 4-2 in the quarterfinals before notching up a solid 3-2 victory over U17 European champion Murat KHATIT (AIN).

Ruziokhunov too had technical superiority wins over Ionut MEREUTA (ROU) and Ivan SEIBEL (GER) before a 4-1 win over Edgar PETROSYAN (ARM) in the semifinals.

The final was all about Balootaki as he did not look in any trouble against Ruziokhunov as he blanked the Uzbekistan wrestler 4-0. He got the lead when Ruziokhunov was called passive and was penalized for fleeing the hold.

In the second period, Ruziokhunov was trying to put pressure on Balootaki and at one point committed himself too much towards a pushout. Balootaki moved away from the line of attack and scored a takedown to lead 4-0. He defended his lead to win the world title.

Zaur BESLEKOEV (AIN), blue, defeated Yusif AHMADLI (AZE) to win the gold at 65kg. (Photo: UWW / Kadir Caliskan)

The Individual Neutral Athletes team also got a gold medal as Zaur BESLEKOEV (AIN) defeated 15-year-old Yusif AHMADLI (AZE) 5-1 in the 65kg gold medal bout.

Beslekoev, who won a bronze medal at the U17 European Championships, was up 1-0 when Ahmadli was called passive in the first period. However, he failed to get a turn from par terre. Ahmadli got the 1-1 criteria lead in the second period when Beslekoev was called for inactivity but he too failed to score from par terre.

The two wrestlers got hold of each other in a bodylock and went for the big throw. Ahmadli managed to throw Beslekoev but fell on his own back with Beslekoev holding his grip. That resulted in Beslekoev getting two points and a turn got him two more as he stuck to the 5-1 lead.

Taizo YOSHIDA (JPN) celebrates after winning the 80kg gold medal. (Photo: UWW / Kadir Caliskan)

Japan's heavy gold

At 80kg, rarely would someone give a chance to Japan to have a wrestler in the final, less winning the gold at the World Championships. But Taizo YOSHIDA (JPN) pulled off a remarkable feat by winning the gold medal at 80kg on Tuesday.

Yoshida, who finished eighth at 80kg last year, became Japan's first-ever Greco-Roman world champion for a weight class above 69kg at any level. This is Japan's first Greco-Roman gold at U17 Worlds since 2017 and fourth overall in the history of the tournament. Japan had finished without a medal at the last U17 Worlds but began this one on a golden note.

Yoshida's streak saw him win 12-2 against Emir DAYAL (TUR) in the opening round, 10-0 against Itzhak NEMSADZE (ISR) in the next round, and beat Alireza ABBASI (IRI) 11-2 in the quarterfinal. It must have come as a relief for Yoshida as he had lost to an Iran wrestler in the quarterfinals last year.

He scored another technical superiority in the semifinals as he defeated Uladzislau DUBROUSKI (AIN) 10-2 to reach the final against Mikhail SHKARIN (AIN).

The final began with Yoshida jumping to a 4-0 lead with go-behind in the zone in the first period. The second period saw Shkarin called passive which added a point to Yoshida who was able to turn Shkarin to stand a point away from gold.

But there was late drama in the bout as Shkarin scored two points and added another two when he secured the arm-drag. Yoshida held on to the 7-4 lead despite a few anxious final moments.

Yoshida's gold has set the perfect tone for Japan in women's wrestling which begins Wednesday in Istanbul.

RESULTS

48kg
GOLD: Payam AHMADI BALOOTAKI (IRI) df. Shakhzod RUZIOKHUNOV (UZB), 4-0

BRONZE: Edgar PETROSYAN (ARM) df. Ivan SEIBEL (GER), via fall (8-0)
BRONZE: Elnar ZIYADOV (AZE) df. Murat KHATIT (AIN), 5-4

55kg
GOLD: Jordyn RANEY (USA) df. SURAJ (IND), 12-2

BRONZE: Kuttubek RYSMATOV (KGZ) df. Halil CINAR (TUR), 11-1
BRONZE: AYTJAN KHALMAKHANOV (UZB) df. Mohammadreza GHOLAMI (IRI), 11-2

65kg
GOLD: Zaur BESLEKOEV (AIN) df. Yusif AHMADLI (AZE), 5-1

BRONZE: Sachin KUMAR (IND) df. Giorgi TCHIKAIDZE (GEO), 6-2
BRONZE: Islombek KARIMJONOV (UZB) df. Octavian CERNETCHI (MDA), 8-0

80kg
GOLD: Taizo YOSHIDA (JPN) df. Mikhail SHKARIN (AIN), 8-6

BRONZE: Uladzislau DUBROUSKI (AIN) df. Alireza ABBASI (IRI), 2-1
BRONZE: Erik TER MATEVOSYAN (ARM) df. Eleftherios PAPPAS (GRE), 8-2

110kg
GOLD: Cemal BAKIR df. RONAK (IND), 2-0

BRONZE: Amirhossein ABDEVALI (IRI) df. Mohamed AHMED (EGY), 2-0
BRONZE: Eldar EMIROV (AIN) df. Nicholas SAHAKIAN (USA), via fall (7-1)

Semifinals

45kg
GOLD: Turan DASHDAMIROV (AZE) vs. RUSTEM ABATSIEV (AIN)

SF 1: RUSTEM ABATSIEV (AIN) df. Yurik MKHITARYAN (ARM), 10-2
SF 2: Turan DASHDAMIROV (AZE) df. Alireza AMIRIGHASRODDASHTI (IRI), 5-1

51kg
GOLD: Artur BROYAN (ARM) vs. Ilia KANDALIN (AIN)

SF 1: Ilia KANDALIN (AIN) df. Dostonbek ORIPOV (UZB), 11-7
SF 2: Artur BROYAN (ARM) df. Manu YADAV (IND), via fall

60kg
GOLD: Roman KARIMOV (AZE) vs. Saba SURMANIDZE (GEO)

SF 1: Saba SURMANIDZE (GEO) df. Kiryl VALEUSKI (AIN), 7-5
SF 2: Roman KARIMOV (AZE) df. Mingiian GORIAEV (AIN), 9-5

71kg
GOLD: Arionas KOLITSOPOULOS (GRE) vs. Ahmadreza MOHAMADIAN (IRI)

SF 1: Ahmadreza MOHAMADIAN (IRI) df. Alkan AKAR (TUR), 4-0
SF 2: Arionas KOLITSOPOULOS (GRE) df. Abdurakhman ABDULKADYROV (AIN), 2-1

92kg
GOLD: Saipula GADZHIMAGOMEDOV (AIN) vs. Saba PURTSELADZE (GEO)

SF 1: Saba PURTSELADZE (GEO) df. Mikayil ISMAYILOV (AZE), 3-1
SF 2: Saipula GADZHIMAGOMEDOV (AIN) df. Gabriel STAN (ROU), 9-0

#WrestleBelgrade

World Championships WW 53kg, 62kg, 68kg and 72kg semis set

Wednesday, September 20, 2023 - 00:32 By Ken Marantz & Vinay Siwach

BELGRADE, Serbia (September 20) -- All women's wrestling day as the World Championships enters its fifth day. Three Olympic and one non-Olympic weight classes were in action on Tuesday and three more Olympic weight classes, 53kg, 62kg and 68kg, will be in action on Wednesday. One non-Olympic weight class in action is 72kg.

WATCH LIVE | MATCH ORDER | DAY 4 RESULTS

14:38: Aisuluu TYNYBEKOVA (KGZ) gains a first-period takedown, and that proves to be the minimum to get her over the line and into the 62kg semifinals with a 2-2 victory over Iryna KOLIADENKO (URK). Koliadenko scores a stepout with one second left on the activity clock, then Tynybekova comes back with a double-leg takedown. In the second period, Koliadenko gains another stepout, but it is not enough to keep Tynybekova from winning on criteria. The result was far different than their semifinal at the Tokyo Olympics, which Tynybekova won 10-0. Tynybekova will next face Luisa NIEMESCH (GER), pulled off a last-second victory over Orkhon PUREVDORJ (MGL).

14:27: Grace BULLEN (NOR) is into the semifinals at 62kg! She blasts Kriszta INCZE (ROU) 10-0 in the quarterfinals. She will have to get through Sakura MOTOKI (JPN) in the semifinals after the Japanese beat Lias NUNES (BRA) 10-0.

14:22: Having taken one major scalp already, Bose CAVUSOGLU TOSUN (TUR) will get a chance for another after whipping Adela HANZLICKOVA (CZE) 8-0 in their 68kg quarterfinal. That puts Cavusoglu Tosun into the semifinals against Ishii. The Turk pulled off a major upset in the first round when she ousted Irina RINGACI (MDA)

14:22: A double 2-1 win at 68kg! Delgermaa ENKHSAIKHAN (MGL) takes out Koumba LARROQUE (FRA) while Emma BRUNTIL (USA) beats Vusala PARFIANOVICH (AIN). They both face each other

14:15: Ami ISHII (JPN) gets a free pass into the 68kg semifinals with a victory by injury default over Meerim ZHUMANAZAROVA (KGZ) who injured her knee in her previous bout

14:10: Teen star Amit ELOR (USA) proves too much for fellow 2022 world champion Miwa MORIKAWA (JPN), scoring a pair of takedowns and two activity points in a 6-0 victory to advance to the 72kg semifinals. Elor is the defending champion, while Morikawa triumphed at 65kg last year.

14:08: At 72kg, Davaanasan ENKH AMAR (MGL) beats Sofia GEORGIEVA (BUL) and she will now take on two-time silver medalist Zhamila BAKBERGENOVA (KAZ) in the semifinal. Bakbergenova defeated Kseniia BURAKOVA (AIN)

13:58: Akari FUJINAMI (JPN) survives the biggest scare of her international career when Lucia YEPEZ GUZMAN (ECU) comes roaring out of the gate in their 53kg quarterfinal and tags the Japanese for five points. Fujinami recovers from the shock to notch three takedowns to go into the break up 6-5. In the second period, she gains a takedown and three lace-lock rolls to move one point from a technical fall, but Yepez Guzman fires back with a double-leg takedown. Fujinami responds with a barrel roll to the back, then gets a headlock and scores a fall. It was the most points ever scored against Fujinami by a non-Japanese opponent. Fujinami had beaten Yepez Guzman twice before, including a 10-0 win at this year's Zagreb Open in February.

13:55: Emma MALMGREN (SWE) with a big four over Vanesa KALADZINSKAYA (AIN) but the Tokyo bronze medalist comes back to score a takedown and a stepout to win 6-4. Kaladzinskaya is into the semifinals and she will take on ANTIM (IND). On Mat A, Maria PREVOLARAKI (GRE) is back in the semifinal with a 1-1 win over Andreea ANA (ROU).

13:45: Grace BULLEN (NOR) saved her big four-pointer for the second period. She hits Esther KOLAWOLE (NGR) with a big throw and confirms the fall to move into the 62kg quarterfinals.

13:40: Orkhon PUREVDORJ (MGL) uses her big throws to put Ana GODINEZ (CAN) on her back and secure a 13-7 win at 62kg. She moves into the quarterfinal and will face Luisa NIEMESCH (GER).

13:28: No wasting any time for Aisuluu TYNYBEKOVA (KGZ). The two-time champion gets a 4-point takedown right off the bat against Mariana CHERDIVARA (MDA), then stacks her up for a fall in 49 seconds that puts her into the 62kg quarterfinals.

13:25: At 62kg, Sakura MOTOKI (JPN) joins her Ikuei University teammate Ishii in the quarterfinals by also beating a Bulgarian opponent. Motoki, the 59kg champ last year, scores two takedowns in the first period and concedes nothing in a 4-0 victory over 2021 59kg gold medalist Bilyana DUDOVA (BUL).

13:20: Emma BRUNTIL (USA) takes on Feng ZHOU (CHN) at 68kg. She moves into the quarterfinals. Bruntil's 6-3 win over Zhou puts her against Vusala PARFIANOVICH (AIN) who just upset Tokyo Olympic silver medalist Blessing OBORUDUDU (NGR) with a late takedown and win 2-2

13:14: Ami ISHII (JPN) survives a late rally and a tenuous situation at the hands of European champion Yuliana YELEVA (BUL) to advance to the 68kg quarterfinals with an 8-4 victory. Ishii had gone up 8-0 in the second period with a takedown and a pair of gut wrenches, when Yeleva scored a takedown and was on the verge of turning Ishii over. But the Japanese managed to hold firm and squirm out of the predicament, enabling her to keep a big lead which came into play when Yeleva scored a late takedown.

13:02: Tokyo Olympic bronze medalist Vanesa KALADZINSKAYA (AIN) with a huge 9-2 win over Stalvira ORSHUSH (HUN) in the 53kg 1/16 finals. She will face Malmgren in the quarterfinals

12:55: Young Amit ELOR (USA) begins defense of her 72kg title by scoring three takedowns in a 7-0 victory over Nesrin BAS (TUR), the 2022 world U23 champion at 68kg. That sets up a final-worthy quarterfinal with Miwa MORIKAWA (JPN), the 65kg champion a year ago who held off QIANDEGENCHAGAN (CHN) 5-2 on the adjacent mat.

12:52: European champion Jonna MALMGREN (SWE) scores a second passivity point to see off Samantha STEWART (CAN) 2-1 and reach the 53kg semifinals. On Mat A, Andreea ANA (ROU) with a 9-0 shutout over Iulia LEORDA (MDA) to reach the semifinal against Maria PREVOLARAKI (GRE)

12:44: Lucia YEPEZ (ECU) with a fall over Christianah OGUNSANYA (NGR) and she moves into the quarterfinals at 53kg. She will have to beat Akari FUJINAMI (JPN) to book her spot to the semifinals.

12:33: Olympic silver medalist Qianyu PANG (CHN) becomes the latest victim of the upset bug. Maria PREVOLARAKI (GRE), a bronze medalist last year, scores a 4-point takedown in the final seconds to pull out an 8-4 victory.

12:32: Akari FUJINAMI (JPN) cruises into the 53kg quarterfinals, adding two lace-lock rolls to her third takedown in a 10-0 victory over Jeongbin OH (KOR) in 1:32. Her winning streak is now at 124.

12:31: Orkhon PUREVDORJ (MGL) hangs on for a 75- win over Jia LONG (CHN) in the 62kg 1/16 final. Purevdorj is an Asian silver medalist while Long was the champion at 65kg at the Asian event

12:25: Grace BULLEN (NOR) with a fall over Angelina RODRIGUES (CPV) at 62kg. Bullen was a silver medalist at 59kg last year. Rodrigues is the first-ever woman wrestler from Cape Verde

12:21: Olympic silver medalist Aisuluu TYNYBEKOVA, aiming for her third world title at 62kg, has her hands full with Aleksandra WOLCZYNSKA (POL). Tynybekova leads 4-2 in the second period when she powers a double-leg takedown to the back for 4, then stacks up Wolczynska for a fall.

12:10: Quick win at 62kg for Sakura MOTOKI (JPN), the 59kg champion last year who moved up to the Olympic weight and beat out world champion Nonoka OZAKI (JPN) for the spot on the Japan team to Belgrade. A takedown to the back and three lace-lock rolls give Motoki a 10-0 win over Ariukhan JUMABAEVA (UZB) in 46 seconds. Next up is Bilyana DUDOVA (BUL) in a clash of the last two gold medalists at 59kg

12:09: Odunayo ADEKUOROYE (NGR) with a fall over Tokyo bronze medalist Evelina NIKOLOVA (BUL) after leading 14-7 in the 57kg repechage. Adekuoroye will now wrestle for bronze and an Olympic quota.

12:03: Adeline GRAY (USA) secures a fall at the first-period buzzer in her 76kg repechage match against Yuanyuan HUANG (CHN) to earn a place in the bronze-medal match later tonight. Not only will the six-time champion Gray be going for her ninth career world medal, and first bronze since 2011, but just as importantly the Paris Olympic quota that goes with it.

11:46: The first major shock of the day comes on Mat C, and Irina RINCACI (MDA) is the victim. Buse CAVUSOGLU TOSUN (TUR) takes Rincaci down with a half-nelson right to her back, then clamps down for a fall at 68kg. Rincaci had started off with a takedown, but paid the price for letting her guard down. Rincaci made history in 2021 when won the 65kg title to become Moldova's first-ever female world champion, and won a bronze last year at 68kg.

11:42: Ami ISHII (JPN) launches her bid to improve on her 68kg silver from last year by quickly dispatching Dieu Thuoug LAI (VIE). An ankle pick to the back and Ishii with the fall in 26 seconds.

11:36: Koumba LARROQUE (FRA), back at the Olympic weight of 68kg after winning her third world medal last year with a bronze at 65kg, gets a 4-point takedown to go up 10-0 but secures the fall anyway against Zsuzsanna MOLNAR (SVK).

11:30: Miwa MORIKAWA (JPN), last year's world champion at 65kg, begins her quest for a second world title, this year at 72kg, with a 3-0 win over Nurzat NURTAEVA (KGZ).

11:16: Dominique PARRISH (USA), who won the 53kg title last year in Fujinami's absence, has seen her reign end after one match. With Parrish on the activity clock, Asian silver medalist ANTIM (UWW) scores a takedown with 1:20 left and holds on for a 3-2 victory.

11:02: Tokyo Olympic silver medal Qianyu PANG (CHN) is up against Altyn SHAGAYEVA (KAZ) on Mat A. After they traded passivities, Pang with a stepout to win 2-1

10:55: A fall on Mat C for Iulia LEORDA (MDA), the losing finalist at 53kg in 2021 to Fujinami, over Sandy PARRA (COL). She and Fujinami could meet in the semifinals this time.

10:53: Akari FUJINAMI (JPN) gets off to a roaring start in her bid to regain the 2021 title at 53kg that she had to give up when she was injured last year. She scores an early single-leg takedown against Tuba DEMIR (TUR), then after a spin-behind takedown, applies the lace lock and spins three times for a 10-0 win in 1:19. The win runs her current winning streak to 123 matches.

10:30: Big day for women's wrestling as three more Olympic weight classes go on mat today. Wrestlers in 53kg, 62kg and 68kg will try to win a spot for the Paris Olympics.

Bakir defends U17 World title at home

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World Championships WW 53kg, 62kg, 68kg and 72kg semis set