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

#WrestleAmman

Teenage stars power India to first team title

Friday, August 18, 2023 - 20:18 By Vinay Siwach

AMMAN, Jordan (August 18) -- Last year, ANTIM (IND) gave India its first gold in women's wrestling at U20 World Championships. A year later, it's apt that the history maker played a key role in another Indian first -- this time a maiden team title at a World Championships.

With seven medals in 10 weight classes, India won the team title with 140 points, beating powerhouse Japan which finished with 129 points and the United States which had 118 points at the U20 World Championships in Amman, Jordan.

Antim, a name that translates into final or last, defended her gold medal from Sofia in another dominating performance at 53kg. She was joined by SAVITA (IND) who won the gold at 62kg, Antim KUNDU (IND) won silver at 65kg and two bronze medalists Reena SANGWAN (IND) at 57kg and Harshita MOR (IND) at 72kg. Priya MALIK (IND) had won gold at 76kg and Arju LUHACH (IND) a bronze medal at 68kg on Thursday.

Indian women had won 13 medals in all U20 World Championships till 2019. But in the three editions since, including the current one in Amman, India has accumulated 19 medals including four gold medals.

The first of those four came in Sofia last year when Antim, a relatively unknown teenager on the circuit demolished the field to win the gold at 53kg. Coming into Amman as defending champion, Antim not only wanted to defend her gold, she wanted to prove a point.

"Despite the gold last year, many people had doubts if I would be able to do it again. So I wanted to repeat in style," Antim said.

Antim, a name her parents gave symbolizing the desire not to have any more girl children, came to Amman after a tough mental battle, fighting for her selection for the upcoming Asian Games and unwanted media attention.

But putting all that aside, Antim reached the 53kg final in Amman with a fall and two technical superiority wins on Thursday. Making the final from the other side of the bracket was Mariia YEFREMOVA (UKR) who secured three pins in three bouts.

Mariia YEFREMOVA (UKR) blocks an ANTIM (IND) attack during their 53kg final in Amman. (Photo: UWW / Amirreza Aliasgari)

As the 17-year-old steps on the mat, her short stature and childlike face may deceive her opponents. But a look at her resume only leaves them stunned or pinned. Before Friday, Yefremova was unbeaten in 31 bouts in eight tournaments and was going for the 32nd in the final and third age-group world title after two U17 titles.

The final in Amman began with Yefremova pacing her legs in the typical Japanese style adopted by many other countries. She tried gripping Antim's left hand and hoping to catch her left leg and get a cradle. Antim continuously snaps her down and builds forward pressure. Yefremova is quick to react and throws her legs backward every time Antim shoots.

Yefremova tries the left-hand grip again. In all three of her pins on Thursday, she used that grip to cradle her opponents and secure the fall. Antim, however, has already read that.

Forty seconds into the final, Antim shoots a double but Yefremova throws her legs back but Antim puts pressure on her head and gets the ankle, pulling Yefremova forward and scoring the takedown. As both wrestlers came to neutral, Antim went a little defensive. Yefremova got on a single-leg but Antim defended with a split before stepping over.

In the second period, Antim allowed Yefremova to catch her left biceps but caught her other hand so Yefremova cannot shoot for Antim's left leg for the cradle. Antim was warned once for passivity. With a minute left in the bout, Yefremova searched for options but looks out of sorts. A desperate low single from Yefremova was presumed by Antim who hit a counter and scored a takedown with 15 seconds on the clock.

Antim would celebrate with folded hands and a meek smile, not making a big deal of the feat she just achieved.

"I checked her bouts and she uses her grip on the left hand and throws the cradle," she said. "She did grip my left hand but I was aware of the move. Also, in the final, I wanted to keep myself away from injury. Every competition is important but there are senior-level competitions coming up so I needed to be safe."

The senior competitions for Antim include Asian Games in October and possibly World Championships in Belgrade. Less than a week from now, she will appear for a selection trial in India to book a ticket for her first World Championships.

For the Asian Games, two-time world bronze medalist Vinesh PHOGAT (IND) was India's direct entry but she injured her knee. Antim, who won a selection trial in which Phogat did not participate, replaced Phogat in the 53kg weight class. That also brought added responsibility for Antim.

"When I reached Amman, I had only one goal that I have to win gold again," she said. "I wanted to perform better than last year. The next day I came to know that I will be going to the Asian Games. So I felt that if I perform well in Amman, everyone will think that I am capable."

ANTIM (IND) wrestles Mariia YEFREMOVA (UKR) in the 53kg final. (Photo: UWW / Kostadin Andonov)

Antim has been touted as Phogat's successor at 53kg as she ran her close at a domestic trial, losing 3-3. A month later, she won the U20 worlds. Phogat would beat Antim 7-0 in their second meeting but with Phogat out of action for more than 10 months, Antim objected to Phogat's direct entry for the Asian Games. That and the gold medal in Sofia put the focus on Antim as India's next big thing.

"Last year, no Indian wrestler had won a medal [in Sofia]," she said. "This year, one wrestler [Malik] had already won. That medal [in Sofia] changed my life. Everyone began talking about me and my prospect at the senior level. Before that medal, I had never won gold. I never imagined that I would ever run Vinesh so close [in the trial]. That close loss actually helped me gain confidence."

The stride in step and face beaming with pride after the gold was evidence of Antim believing that she belongs.

SAVITA (IND) scores a takedown against Astrid MONTERO (VEN) in the 62kg final. (Photo: UWW / Amirreza Aliasgari)

Savita too exudes of similar confidence as she won her third age-group world title and second in two weeks. The 17-year-old won the gold at the U17 Worlds in 2022 and 2023 and landed in Amman hoping to win her first U20 world gold.

She opened her campaign in Amman with a fall against Dunja LUKIC (SRB) and set up a quarterfinal against Suzu SASAKI (JPN) a wrestler she beat to win her first U17 world gold. Sasaki had expressed her desire to avenge that loss in Amman. Sasaki almost did it as she led 6-4 but struggled with her conditioning in the second period. Savita ultimately pinned Sasaki.

"I think the bout in Budapest for the gold was much tougher than this one," Savita said. "She grabbed my ankle and scored a few points but I went for the cradle and the fall."

In the final against Astrid MONTERO (VEN), Savita was relentless in her attacks and scored four takedowns and a stepout in the first period to lead 9-0. 20 seconds into the second period, Savita got a stepout and the win.

"I was very confident in the final," she said. "I kept low so I don't get hit for a four."

With instructions also coming from her academy back in Rohtak, Haryana, Savita stuck to basics and tried hitting her favorite move, the cradle. After the U17 and U20 teams, she will try to make the senior world team next week.

India could have added a third gold on Friday as Kundu wrestled in the 65kg final against Eniko ELEKES (HUN) but suffered a 9-2 defeat.

In the bronze medal bouts, Sangwan was hit for a big throw from Shugyla OMIRBEK (KAZ) in the final 10 seconds which was scored four by the referee, giving Omirbek a 6-5 win. India challenged the call and on review, it was awarded four points to Sangwan and only two points to Omirbek.

At 72kg, U20 Asian and 2022 U17 world champion Mor pinned Emilia CRECIUN (MDA) to claim the bronze, a medal she described as "disappointing."

On Thursday, Malik upgraded her silver from 2022 to gold with a 5-0 win over Laura KUEHN (GER). The two-time U17 world champion too will be in the trials for the World Championships.

The seventh medal for India was won by returning bronze medalist Luhach at 68kg after she beat Elif KURT (TUR) 8-1.

RESULTS

53kg
GOLD: ANTIM (IND) df. Mariia YEFREMOVA (UKR), 4-0

BRONZE: Xuejing LIANG (CHN) df. Polina LUKINA (AIN), 7-4
BRONZE: Gultakin SHIRINOVA (AZE) df. Katie GOMEZ (USA), 9-4

57kg
GOLD: Alina FILIPOVYCH (UKR) df. Ichika ARAI (JPN), 5-3

BRONZE: REENA (IND) df. Shugyla OMIRBEK (KAZ), 9-4
BRONZE: Gerda TEREK (HUN) df. Gabriela CROSS (CAN), 12-2

62kg
GOLD: SAVITA (IND) df. Astrid MONTERO (VEN), 10-0

BRONZE: Iryna BONDAR (UKR) df. Melanie JIMENEZ (MEX),
BRONZE: Suzu SASAKI (JPN) df. Iris THIEBAUX (FRA), 10-0

65kg
GOLD: Eniko ELEKES (HUN) df. ANTIM (IND), 9-2

BRONZE: Kseniya TSIARENIA (AIN) df. Khadija JLASSI (TUN), via fall
BRONZE: Maria PANTIRU (ROU) df. Ekaterina KOSHKINA (AIN), 14-4

72kg
GOLD: Amit ELOR (USA) df. Bukrenaz SERT (TUR), 11-0

BRONZE: Yuka FUJIKURA (JPN) df. Patrycja CUBER (POL),
BRONZE: HARSHITA (IND) df. Emilia CRECIUN (MDA), via fall

Greco-Roman Semifinals

55kg
GOLD: Iskhar KURBAYEV (KAZ) vs. Farid SADIKHLI (AZE)

SF 1: Iskhar KURBAYEV (KAZ) df. Nuristan SUIORKULOV (KGZ), 3-3
SF 2: Farid SADIKHLI (AZE) df. Ali AHMADI VAFA (IRI), 9-0

63kg
GOLD: Zhantoro MIRZALIEV (KGZ) vs. Ahmadreza MOHSEN NEZHAD (IRI)

SF 1: Zhantoro MIRZALIEV (KGZ) df. Dinislam SAGITZHAN (KAZ), via fall (14-7)
SF 2: Ahmadreza MOHSEN NEZHAD (IRI) df. Komei SAWADA (JPN), 5-1

77kg
GOLD: Alireza ABDEVALI (IRI) vs. Alexandru SOLOVEI (MDA)

SF 1: Alireza ABDEVALI (IRI) df. Tornike MIKELADZE (GEO), 3-1
SF 2: Alexandru SOLOVEI (MDA) df. Erlan MARS UULU (KGZ), 7-3

87kg
GOLD: Achiko BOLKVADZE (GEO) vs. Abolfazl CHOUBANI (IRI)

SF 1: Achiko BOLKVADZE (GEO) df. Tourpal MAGAMADOV (FRA), 10-2
SF 2: Abolfazl CHOUBANI (IRI) df. Vigen NAZARYAN (ARM), 1-1

130kg
GOLD: Wenhao JIANG (CHN) vs. Fardin HEDAYATI (IRI)

SF 1: Wenhao JIANG (CHN) df. Achilleas CHRYSIDIS (GRE), 13-2
SF 2: Fardin HEDAYATI (IRI) df. Fekry EISSA (EGY), 8-0

Bakir defends U17 World title at home

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Teenage stars power India to first team title