#WrestleOslo

Berg Among Four Who Announced Retirement in Oslo

Thursday, October 14, 2021 - 12:41 By Vinay Siwach

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OSLO, Norway (October 14) -- The Oslo World Championships witnessed a special moment on the penultimate day of the competition when Norway's Olympic medalist Stig BERGE (NOR) announced his retirement from the sport in front of his home fans. The Jordal Amfi arena saw a sea of fans bid farewell to the Greco-Roman wrestler who won a bronze medal at the Rio Olympics 2016. 

In his final tournament, Berge was looking good for a medal but his run was cut short when he suffered a loss in the quarterfinals. The hopes of a repechage round were also dashed when lost in the semifinal of the 67kg weight class.

President Lalovic welcomed King of Norway HARALD V to the '21 World Championshipns in Oslo. (Photo: Kadir Caliskan)

On the special occasion, the King of Norway HARALD V was also present in the arena and was greeted by the president of United World Wrestling Nenad LALOVIC. The two were given a grand reception in the arena and both watched the bouts on Saturday.

The 38-year-old, who left his singlets on the mat Sunday, brought his son to the mat as the crowd gave him standing ovation for a career which included a bronze medal at the Olympics, bronze at World Championships and three silver medals at European Championships.

He was not the only wrestler to retire in Oslo. Three other wrestlers also hanged their bouts from the sport.

Rio Olympian Chakir ANSARI (MOR) signaled his retirement by leaving his shoes on the mat at the '21 Oslo World Championships. (Photo: Kadir Caliskan)

Freestyle wrestler Chakir ANSARI (MOR), Egypt women's wrestling legend Samar HAMZA (EGY) and Japan's Greco-Roman wrestler SHIYOMADA (JPN) also ended their careers with Ansari being the first of the lot.

Ansari wrestled on the first day of the competition and after his loss to Arman ELOYAN (FRA), he left his shoes on the mat, a mark of retirement in wrestling. Incidentally, the two-time Olympian wrestled for France until 2014 before moving to Morocco.

Hamza had a fairytale ending to her career, etching her name in history books as she became her country's first-ever female wrestler to win a medal at the annual event. She defeated Kiran GODARA (IND) in the 76kg bronze medal bout to return home with the bronze. Hamza has previously wrestled at two Olympics and finished 10th in Tokyo.

Shiyomada could have shocked the world when he led Olympic champion 6-1 in their opening round bout. He then tried a big body-lock throw but ended on his back, a position Mohammadreza GERAEI (IRI) held and secured a pin for the win. In the repechage round, Shiyomada lost to Hasart JAFAROV (AZE).

#WrestleZagreb

Zagreb Open: Snyder beats Ghasempour, Zare vs Masoumi in 125kg final

Thursday, January 11, 2024 - 09:09 By United World Wrestling Press

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ZAGREB, Croatia (January 11) -- Zagreb Open day two is about to give wrestling fans a Kyle SNYDER (USA) vs Kamran GHASEMPOUR (IRI) and Amir Hossein ZARE (IRI) vs Amirreza MASOUMI (IRI) at 125kg. Yui SUSAKI (JPN) will also be in action.

Catch all the action from the Zagreb Open Ranking Series free using promo code ZAGREB100.

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The finals for the evening session are set:

Women's Wrestling

50kg: Yui SUSAKI (JPN) vs. Ziqi FENG (CHN)
55kg: Samantha STEWART (CAN) vs. Roksana ZASINA (POL)

Freestyle

79kg:  Avtandil KENTCHADZE (GEO) vs Mohamad NOKHODI (IRI)
92kg: Andro MARGISHVILI (GEO) vs Nathan JACKSON (USA)
97kg: Kyle SNYDER (USA) vs Amirali AZARPIRA (IRI)
125kg: Amir Hossein ZARE (IRI) vs Amirreza MASOUMI (IRI)

13:45: Over on Mat A, world bronze medalist Ziqi FENG (CHN) rolled to a 12-2 win over world silver medalist Otgonjargal DOLGORJAV (MGL) to reach the 50kg final. She will take on Yui SUSAKI (JPN) in a rematch of the World Championships semifinal which Susaki won 4-2.

13:40: Kyle SNYDER (USA) and Kamran GHASEMPOUR (IRI) step out for the 97kg semifinal. Snyder with the first attacks and gets a stepout. Ghasempour is warned for activity and put on the 30-second clock. Snyder leads 2-0 at the break. Ghasempour gets a single leg but switches for a stepout. Snyder circles and scores a takedown with ease. Snyder leads 4-0 with a minute left. Snyder will hold off Ghasempour and march into the 97kg final with a 4-0 win. He will face Amirali AZARPIRA (IRI).

13:30: Amirreza MASOUMI (IRI) and Mason PARRIS (USA) on Mat A now. An underhook heavy Masoumi scores the first stepout but Parris with a takedown. Masoumi with another stepout. Parris shoots for a single leg but Masoumi blocks and gets exposure but Parris rolls him over for two points. 4-4 criteria lead for Parris. Masoumi with a takedown and Parris is put in par terre for fleeing the hold. Masoumi gets a gut wrench and makes it 8-4 at the break. Parris gets on some of the leg attacks but doesn't finish any. Masoumi still leads 8-4. Parris gives up a stepout but scores a takedown to make it 9-6. Masoumi is still with the lead. Two to finish the match and Masoumi wins 11-6 and sets up a final against Amir Hossein ZARE (IRI)

13:20: Geno PETRIASHVILI (GEO) pulls out injured against Amir Hossein ZARE (IRI) in their 125kg semifinal. Zare had defeated Petraishvili in the World Championships final last year.

13:15: World bronze medalist Anna LUKASIAK (POL) had the world silver medalist Otgonjargal DOLGORJAV (MGL) in trouble with four points but Dolgorjav hung on for a 5-4 win.

13:10: Amirali AZARPIRA (IRI) keeps off a stunning comeback from Isaac TRUMBLE (USA) t to win 8-7 and advance to the 97kg semifinals.

13:05: Kamran GHASEMPOUR (IRI) is called for passivity against Ibrahim CIFTCI (TUR) and gives up the activity point. Ghasempour with a takedown just before the break to lead 2-1. He begins the second period with a takedown and adds another to lead 6-1. No more scores in the bout and we have Kyle SNYDER vs Kamran GHASEMPOUR semifinal at 97kg.

12:55: Kyle SNYDER (USA) into the semifinals at 97kg with a 10-0 win over Cristian SARCO (VEN). Kamran GHASEMPOUR (IRI) taking on Ibrahim CIFTCI (TUR) now to see if he can set up the semifinal against Snyder. 

12:50: Yui SUSAKI (JPN) with another victory via superiority and she moves into the 50kg semifinals. Susaki looks in dominant form so far, as expected.

12:45: Amir Hossein ZARE (IRI) with a technical superiority win over Nicholas GWIAZDOWSKI (USA) at 125kg. He will get Petriashvili in the semifinals.

12:40: Geno PETRIASHVILI (GEO), leading 3-0 against Robert BARAN (POL) at 125kg, seems to have pulled a muscle around his ribs. He has called for medical attention. He resumes the bout and wins 10-0 but looks in trouble. He also has a heavily tapped left knee.

12:30: A surprise entry into the semifinals at 97kg as VICKY (UWW) beat Mamuka KORDZAIA (GEO) 5-0. Solid performance from Vicky so far for his three wins.

12:15: Elizaveta SMIRNOVA (AIN) scored a takedown on Yui SUSAKI (JPN) but the Japanese answered with a reversal and then an arm bar to pin Smirnova! Into the quarterfinals at 50kg.

12:00: That was a long bout for Kamran GHASEMPOUR (IRI) against Awusayiman HABILA (CHN). Perhaps saving some energy for later but Habila cut the lead to 4-2 before Ghasempour scored a takedown to win 6-2.

11:30: Kyle SNYDER (USA) wins at 97kg and Amirreza MASOUMI (IRI) holds off Youssif HEMIDA (EGY) at 125kg. Kamran GHASEMPOUR (IRI) is up next on Mat B

11:20: Geno PETRIASHVILI (GEO) survives a scare. Kamil KOSCIOLEK (POL) scored a takedown to lead 2-0 but Petriasvili, seemingly in some trouble, managed to crawl back and win 3-2. On Mat B, Amir Hossein ZARE (IRI) blanks Zhewei DENG (CHN) 10-0.

10:55: 20 seconds! That's the time Yui SUSAKI (JPN) needed to pin Mariana ROJAS (VEN) at 50kg.

10:50: Two-time world silver medalist Otgonjargal DOLGORJAV (MGL) rolls to a 10-0 lead before securing a fall against Agata WALERZAK (POL) at 50kg to kick off Women's Wrestling at the Zagreb Open.

10:45: Kyle SNYDER (USA) and Tuerxunbieke MUHEITE (CHN) wrestling on Mat C. Snyder with a stepout. Mueite answers with his own. Snyder with a double-leg with a four. He adds one more in the second and a takedown to win 11-1 at 97kg.

10:30: Amirreza MASOUMI (IRI) and Givi MATCHRASHVILI (GEO) wrestling at 125kg. The Georgian is a 97kg wrestler but has decided not to cut weight at the start of the season. He is up at 125kg but trailing 4-0 at the break against Masoumi. A match that was never in Matchrashvili's grabs as Masoumi beats him 6-2 at 125kg.

10:00: Welcome to day two of the Zagreb Open! Geno PETRIASHVILI (GEO) and Daniel LIGETI (HUN) at 125kg put on a show, sort of. Petriashvili was trailing 3-0 but added three takedowns in the second period to win 6-3 and advance.