#wrestlenursultan

Burroughs Survives Scares to Stay on Collision Course with Chamizo at 74kg

By Ken Marantz

NUR-SULTAN, Kazakhstan (Sept. 20)---For four-time world champion Jordan BURROUGHS (USA), the result is all that matters. So it was no problem shrugging off the bullets that he dodged to remained on a collision course with rival Frank CHAMIZO (ITA).

Burroughs survived two close wins before beating Khadzhimurad GADZHIYEV (AZE) 8-1 to advance to the freestyle 74kg semifinals, where he will face reigning world champion Zaurbek SIDAKOV (RUS) in the night session on Day 7 of the World Championships.

“I don’t think anyone cares about the score, they just care about me getting my hand raised,” Burroughs said about posting his easiest win in the quarterfinals.

Earlier, Burroughs scored 3 late points to win 11-10 in a roller-coaster victory over Azamat NURYKAU (BLR) in his opening match in the second round. Then, he trailed 4-0 against Murad KURAMAGOMEDOV (HUN) before scoring a 4-point takedown and winning 6-4. 

“It’s like that sometimes,” said Burroughs, who won a bronze medal a year ago in Budapest. “Sometimes you win big, sometimes you survive. But I think the name of the game at this level is survive and advance, move on to the next round.”

By making the semifinals, Burroughs also clinched a berth for the United States at Tokyo 2020, where he will aim to regain the Olympic title he won at London 2012. The top six finishers in each of the Olympic weight class secure spots for their country at Tokyo 2020.

Jordan BURROUGHS (USA) locked up the United States' spot at 74kg after defeating Khadzhimurad GADZHIYEV (AZE) in the quarterfinals. (Photo: Kadir Caliskan)

“It’s good for our country, but it’s not really of any benefit to me,” Burroughs said. “I still have to wrestle at the Olympic trials to make the team. It’s a beautiful thing. One less tournament to worry about next year.”

Burroughs’ rival, two-time world champion Chamizo, advanced to the semifinals with a victory by fall over Asian champion Daniyar KAISANOV (KAZ). He will face Zelimkhan KHADIEV (FRA), who knocked off 2018 silver medalist Avtandil KENTCHADZE (GEO) by fall in the second round.

Another showdown was looming at 125kg, where two-time reigning champion Geno PETRAIASHIVILI (GEO) and Taha AKGAL (TUR), winner of the three titles before that, both eased into the semifinals.

Petriashvili, who chalked up a pair of technical fall victories, will face Oleksandr KHOTSIANIVSKYI (UKR). Akgal, the Rio 2016 champion who beat Petriashvili at this year’s European Championships, will take on 2018 world silver medalist DENG Zhiwei (CHN)

 At the non-Olympic 7okg, 2017 world silver medalist Magomedmurad GADZHIEV (POL) scored a takedown with just over a minute to go to secure a 3-3 victory on criteria over last year’s runner-up, Adam BATIROV (BRN).

Gadzhiev will face 2018 world U23 silver medalist David BAEZ (RUS), while Asian champion Nurkozha KAIPANOV (KAZ) will take on Yones EMAMICHOGHAEI (IRI), a bronze medalist in Xi’an, China, last April, in the semifinals. 

Defending champion J’den COX (USA) earned a place in the final our at 92kg against Irakli MTSITURI (GEO). The other semifinal pits 2018 bronze medalist and Asian champion Alireza KARAMIMACHIANI (IRI) against Alikhan ZHABRAILOV (RUS).

The repechage rounds in weight classes started the previous day provided high drama in themselves, particularly for Japan, as those emerging to gain spots in the bronze-medal matches in the night session also clinched a spot for their country at Tokyo 2020.

Takuto OTOGURO (JPN), the defending world champion, defeated three-time world champion Haji ALIYEV (AZE), 11-9, to reach the 65kg bronze-medal bout. (Photo: Kadira Caliskan)

Takuto OTOGURO (JPN), the defending champion who lost to Gadzhimurad RASHIDOV (RUS) in the third round in a very tough lower bracket at 65kg, survived a battle royale with three-time world champion, Haji ALIYEV (AZE), withstanding two late caution penalties in forging out an 11-9 win.

Otoguro then secured the Tokyo 2020 spot for Japan by beating Haji ALI (BRN) 6-1. A victory in the third-place match over Iszmail MUSZUKAJEV (HUN) would clinch the Olympic berth for himself, in accordance with Japan federation criteria.

Olympic and two-time world champion Sara DOSHO (JPN) also earned a shot at a bronze and a confirmed place at Tokyo 2020 when she won 2-2 on last-point criteria in her women’s 68kg repechage match over Blessing OBORODUDU (NGR). 

Yukako KAWAI (JPN), the 2018 silver medalist, followed suit with two victories at 62kg to move closer to joining older sister Risako, the champion at 57kg, on the Japanese Olympic team. 

With her sister and mother encouraging her from the stands, Kawai got a second-period takedown to clinch a 2-0 victory over Yuliia TKACH OSTAPCHUK (UKR) and make the third-place playoff.

“After I lost yesterday, my opponent advanced to the final, so my sister said I have been given another chance, and I have to think positively because it may not come again,” Kawai said. 

Meanwhile, Serbia was assured of its first-ever Olympian in freestyle when Steven MICIC (SRB) made one of the bronze-medal matches at 57kg. 

Micic is part of the group of U.S-born wrestlers with dual nationality who train at the University of Michigan in a program under the leadership of Russian legend Sergey BELAGLAZOV. 

Day 7 Pairings

Freestyle

57kg (34 entries)
Gold – Suleyman ATLI (TUR) vs Zavur UGUEV (RUS)
Bronze – Stevan MICIC (SER) vs Nurislam SANAYEV (KAZ)
Bronze – Reza ATRINAGHARCHI (IRI) vs Kumar RAVI (IND)

65kg (44 entries)
Gold – Daulet NIYAZBEKOV (KAZ) vs Gadzhimurad RASHIDOV (RUS)
Bronze – Tulga TUMUR OCHIR (MGL) vs Bajrang PUNIA (IND)
Bronze – Takuto OTOGURO (JPN) vs Iszmail MUSZUKAJEV (HUN)

70kg (30 entries)
Semifinal – Magomedmurad GADZHIEV (POL) vs David BAEZ (RUS) 
Semifinal – Yones EMAMICHOGHAEI vs Nurkozha KAIPANOV (KAZ)

74kg (39 entries)
Semifinal – Frank CHAMIZO (ITA) vs Zelimkhan KHADIEV (FRA) 
Semifinal – Zaurbek SIDAKOV (RUS) vs Jordan BURROUGHS (USA)

92kg (18 entries)
Semifinal – J’den COX (USA) vs Irakli MTSITURI (GEO) 
Semifinal – Alikhan ZHABRAILOV (RUS) vs Alireza KARAMIMACHIANI (IRI)

125kg (28 entries)
Semifinal – Geno PETRAIASHIVILI (GEO) vs Oleksandr KHOTSIANIVSKYI (UKR) 
Semifinal – Taha AKGAL (TUR) vs DENG Zhiwei (CHN)

Women’s Wrestling 

62kg (34 entries)
Gold – Taybe YUSEIN (BUL) vs Aisuluu TYNYBEKOVA (KGZ)
Bronze – Henna JOHANSSON (SWE) vs Marianna SASTIN (HUN)
Bronze – Yukako KAWAI (JPN) vs KIM Jong Sim (PRK)

68kg (32 entries)
Gold – Jenny FRANSSON (SWE) vs Tamyra MENSAH STOCK (USA)
Bronze – Battsetseg SORONZONBOLD (MGL) vs Alla CHERKASOVA (UKR)
Bronze – Sara DOSHO (JPN) vs Anna SCHELL (GER)

#WrestleBelgrade

2023 World Championships FS 65kg, 97kg; WW 55kg, 59kg semis set

By Ken Marantz & Vinay Siwach

BELGRADE, Serbia (September 18) -- The third day of the World Championships and women's wrestling is being introduced. The final two Freestyle weights, 65kg and 97kg, will be in action along with WW 55kg and 59kg in action. Remember that Olympic weight classes offer 5 Paris Olympic quotas, four to the medal winners and one to the winner of the playoff which has the bronze-losing wrestlers.

WATCH LIVE | MATCH ORDER

15:24: What a finish to the morning session! After Kyle SNYDER (USA) was unceremoniously ousted by Akhmed TAZHUDINOV (BRN) in the 97kg quarterfinals, Mojtaba GOLEIJ (IRI) was on the verge of slaying the other half of the Snyderlaev beast when Abdulrashid SADULAEV (AIN) pulled off a miracle victory in the final seconds. Asian champion Tazhudinov scored two 4-point moves off counter lifts, the second giving him an 11-0 victory over Snyder at 2:52. Meanwhile, Goleij had gone ahead of Sadulaev 4-2 with a lift-and-dump takedown, only for the five-time world champion to gain a reverse headlock and put Goleij onto his back for a fall with just seconds remaining.

15:10: Rahman AMOUZAD (IRI) appears to be cruising into the 65kg semifinals with a seven-point lead in the second period when Nicholas LEE (USA) comes to life and pancakes him to his back. But it is too little, too late as the Iranian fights out of it and holds on for a 7-4 victory.

15:00: Iszmail MUSZUKAJEV (HUN) has taken out another hammer. He scored two takedowns in his 5-4 win over Shamil MAMMEDOV (AIN). On Mat D, Sebastian RIVERIA (PUR) rolls to a 15-4 win over Maxim SACULTAN (MDA) to reach the semifinals against Vagzen TEVANYAN (ARM)

14:43: A takedown in each period and veteran Yullia TKACH (UKR) is into the 59kg semifinals with a 5-0 victory over Othelie HOEIE. Tkach is pursuing her fifth world medal and first since 2018. She's nine years removed from her lone title won in 2014.

14:18: Mojtaba GOLEIJ (IRI) earns a shot at Sadulaev in the quarterfinals, overwhelming Takashi ISHIGURO (JPN) 11-1.

14:15: Abdulrashid SADULAEV (AIN) gives up a late takedown to Vladislav BAITCAEV (HUN) but the Olympic champ wins 4-2 at 97kg and sets up a bout with Mojtaba GOLEIJ (IRI)

14:12: One thing is for sure, Kyle SNYDER (USA) doesn't like to waste time. He scores a stepout four seconds into his match against Radu LEFTER (MDA) and then it's off to the races. A run of takedowns and he's a 12-1 winner with 30 seconds to spare in the first period. Lefter got his point with a stepout, but the fact that he got Snyder's leg in the air and only came out with 1 point shows the tenacity of the American.

14:00: Iszmail MUSZUKAJAEV (HUN) pins Olympic champion Takuto OTOGURO (JPN)! A bodylock controlled by Muszukajaev and Otoguro, who isn't aware of the fall, is in disbelief.

13:54: Rahman AMOUZAD (IRI) remains on track to defend his 65kg title with a silky smooth 12-0 rout of Stefan COMAN (ROU) to advance to the quarterfinals. He starts with three stepouts, then gets a takedown with a barrel roll. Another stepout, another takedown, then he stops a counter lift for 4 and the bout is over with seven seconds to go in the first period.

13:39: Haruna OKUNO (JPN) takes the mat at 55kg with tape wrapped around her face after suffering a gash on her nose in her previous match. She shows obvious discomfort, especially when Otgontuya CHINBOLD delivers a forearm to the face. Okuno gets only an activity point in the first period, but turns it on in the second, scoring a takedown-gut wrench combination and two more takedowns for a 9-2 win and a place in the quarterfinals. 

13:23: 2014 world champion Yuliia TKACH (UKR) comes back from 4-0 down to pin Anastasiia SIDELNIKOVA (AIN) at 59kg. The arm bar to use. In the same weight class, Qi ZHANG (CHN) 12-0 over Tamara DOLLAK (HUN)

13:19: Iran is dealt a setback in the freestyle team race as Yones EMAMI (IRI), a bronze medalist a year ago, falls to former world champion Hetik CABOLOV (SRB) in the repechage at 74kg. That not only means one less medal for Iran, but it will also miss out on the Paris Olympic berth in the weight class -- although that will likely be acquired at the Asian qualifying tournament.

13:10: Sae NANJO (JPN), chasing her first senior world title, gets her first bout against Jowita WRZESIEN (POL) underway with a takedown to lead 2-0 at the break. He adds another takedown in the second period to win 4-0

12:26: Haji ALIYEV (AZE), back on the mat with little turnaround time after a tough win over Shaohua YUAN (CHN), breaks open a close match with Georgii OKOROKOVV (AUS) to stay alive at 65kg. Aliyez leads 2-2 by criteria, but scores a takedown and gut wrench, then another takedown in the final two minutes for an 8-2 win. 

12:10: Defending champion Rahman AMOUZAD (IRI) warms up for the journey ahead at 65kg with a carefree 10-0 win over Yanisse MADI (COM). Amouzad expends little effort in scoring a takedown and lace lock, then reeling off three takedowns to end it at 2:46.

11:57: Otoguro has no problem putting away Erik ARUSHANIAN (UKR). He scores a takedown and a pair of gut wrenches to go up 6-0. Another takedown, another gut wrench, and it's all over at 10-0 with 12 seconds left in the first period. Next up for Otoguro could be Iszmail MUSZUKAJEV (HUN), who he beat in the quarterfinals at the Tokyo Olympics to avenge a loss in the bronze-medal match at the 2019 worlds.

11:45: Three-time world champion and Tokyo Olympic silver medalist Haji ALIYEV (AZE) had to take an extended medical break as he wrestles Shaohua YUAN (CHN). Aliyev leads 3-2 at the break as he answered Yuan's takedown with an underhook throw of his own. Another takedown for Aliyev to start the second period and he calls bleeding time instantly. Yuan tried challenging but Aliyev with a 10-4 win

11:32: Olympic champion Takuto OTOGURO (JPN), wrestling in his first international match since his triumph in Tokyo, meets some resistance from Islam DUDAEV (ALB) in his opener at 65kg, but scores three takedowns in the second period to secure a 9-2 win.

11:12: Two-time former world champion Haruna OKUNO (JPN), back at women's 55kg because of Japan's depth at 53kg, gets a 4-pointer off a late scramble to clinch an 8-2 victory over world U20 champion Aryna MARTYNAVA (AIN). Okuno, who won her third world U23 gold last year, is making her first senior world appearance since 2018.

11:00: Bolortuya KHURELKHUU (MGL) hit a monster five-pointer on Krystsina SAZYKINA (POL) and secured the fall to start the day at 59kg.

10:30: Another day and we got two more Olympic weight classes going on the mat. Perhaps the deepest weight class in wrestling, 65kg, and 97kg will be on today in Freestyle. Women's Wrestling will see non-Olympic weight classes 55kg and 59kg