#YasarDogu

Davidovi Scores Miraculous Comeback; Seema Slides into Top-Four After Making Finals

Thursday, July 11, 2019 - 15:41 By Eric Olanowski

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ISTANBUL, Turkey (July 11) --- Italy’s eight-ranked Givi DAVIDOVI (ITA) trailed Mikyay NAIM (BUL) 8-1 in the 57kg semifinals, but scored eight unanswered points and inserted himself into the Yasar Dogu finals with a 9-8 come-from-behind-victory. 

Davidovi’s opponent, Mikyay Naim, the 2017 U23 world runner-up, came out on fire in their semifinals match -- nearly ending the match after he commanded the 8-1 lead from three takedowns and a gut wrench. Naim’s struck first with a shuck-by. In the same sequence, he quickly glued Davidovi’s left arm to his hip and jumped into a left-side trapped arm gut wrench and had the 4-0 lead.  

The pair came back up to their feet, and after a short scramble, Naim somehow came out on top to score his second takedown of the bout -- giving him the 6-0 lead. 

Davidovi squirmed his way on top and got on the board with a reversal -- cutting Naim’s lead to 6-1. With the five-point advantage, Naim used a single leg to score his third takedown of the bout. 

Trailing 8-1, Davidovi flipped on his offensive switch and scored four points from a double that transitioned into a leg lace. Down by four points with less than 20 seconds left in the final period, the Italian scored his second four-point sequence of the period. This time, Davidovi shot a desperation single leg which he coupled with a trapped arm gut. This gave him the 9-8 lead, and ultimately a spot in the 57kg finals where he’ll meet Baris KAYA (TUR), who capped off his run to the finals with a dominating 12-0 performance over Abdelhak KHERBACHE (ALG). 

If Davidovi, the eighth-ranked wrestler in the world coming into the Yasar Dogu, wins gold tomorrow night, he’ll collect 14 Ranking Series points and be ranked fifth in the world at 57kg. More importantly, this could potentially come into play if top-ranked reigning world champion Zaur UGUEV fails to make the Russian national team, or if No. 4 Nurislam SANAYEV (KAZ) doesn't return to 57kg. If either of these happens, Davidovi would receive a bump and would slide into the fourth seed in Nur-Sultan. 

Seema SEEMA (IND) upset U23 world champion Evin DEMIRHAN (TUR), 3-1 and reached the 50kg finals. (Photo: Gabor Martin)

Meanwhile, in women’s wrestling, India’s Seema SEEMA (IND) scored the upset win over Evin DEMIRHAN (TUR) in the semifinals and will jump into the top-four of the 50kg world rankings. 

In their semifinals match, Seema shucked by the U23 world champion and scored the match's first takedown. The Indian wrestler conceded a step out point and took the 2-1 lead into the second period. She tacked on another takedown in the second period and closed out the match with the 3-1 victory.

She’ll wrestle Valeriya CHEPSARAKOVA (RUS) in the 50kg finals. Chepsarakova trailed 1-0, but kept her hips up and caught Nadezhda SOKOLOVA (RUS) on her back. She scored the fall shortly after and moved into her second Ranking Series finals. She'll be looking for her first Ranking Series title since winning the 2018 Molgolia Open. 

The Day 2 finals begin at 17:30 (local time) and will be broadcasted live on www.unitedworldwrestling.org. 

RESULTS

Freestyle
57kg
GOLD - Baris KAYA (TUR) vs. Givi DAVIDOVI (ITA)
SEMIFINAL - Baris KAYA (TUR) df. Abdelhak KHERBACHE (ALG), 12-0 
SEMIFINAL - Givi DAVIDOVI (ITA) df. Mikyay Salim NAIM (BUL), 9-8 

61kg 
GOLD - Munir AKTAS (TUR) vs. Rahul AWARE (IND)
SEMIFINAL - Munir AKTAS (TUR) df. Cabbar DUYUM (TUR), 2-1 
SEMIFINAL - Rahul AWARE (IND) df. Utkarsh KALE (IND), 7-6 

70kg
GOLD - Murtazali MUSLIMOV (AZE) vs. Mihail Iliev GEORGIEV (BUL)
SEMIFINAL - Murtazali MUSLIMOV (AZE) Rajnesh RAJNEESH (IND), 6-0 
SEMIFINAL - Mihail Iliev GEORGIEV (BUL) df. Haydar YAVUZ (TUR), 2-2 

Women’s Wrestling
50kg 
GOLD - Seema SEEMA (IND) vs. Valeriya CHEPSARAKOVA (RUS)
SEMIFINAL - Seema SEEMA (IND) df. Evin DEMIRHAN (TUR), 4-1 
SEMIFINAL - Valeriya CHEPSARAKOVA (RUS) df. Nadezhda SOKOLOVA (RUS), via fall 

53kg 
GOLD - Bediha GUN (TUR) vs. Zulfiya YAKHYAROVA (KAZ) 
SEMIFINAL - Zulfiya YAKHYAROVA (KAZ) vs. Marina SEDNEVA (KAZ), 3-1 
SEMIFINAL - Bediha GUN (TUR) df. Samantha STEWART (CAN), 10-0 

59kg
GOLD - Kumari MANJU (IND) vs. Katsiaryna HANCHAR YANUSHKEVICH (BLR)
SEMIFINAL -Kumari MANJU (IND) df. Gulnora TOSHPULATOVA (UZB), 4-1 
SEMIFINAL -Katsiaryna HANCHAR YANUSHKEVICH (BLR) df. Sara LINDBORG (SWE), 8-4

62kg
GOLD - Forrest MOLINARI (USA) df. Natalia FEDOSEEVA (RUS)
SEMIFINAL - Forrest MOLINARI (USA) df. Aina TEMIRTASSOVA (KAZ), 7-3
SEMIFINAL - Natalia FEDOSEEVA (RUS) df. Anna SHCHERBAKOVA (RUS), 4-3 

#WrestleAthens

U17 Worlds 2025: Iran, U.S. put two each in Freestyle finals

Friday, August 1, 2025 - 14:57 By Vinay Siwach

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ATHENS, Greece (August 1) -- Iran and the United States emerged as the best performers on day one of Freestyle competition at the World U17 Championships in Athens, Greece after placing two wrestlers each in the gold medal bouts.

Five Freestyle weight classes were in action on Friday, as the tournament entered its final three days.

Iran and the U.S. will face off in the 48kg final after Ariah MILLS (USA) and Sina BOUSTANI (IRI) won their respective semifinals.

Mills defeated European U17 champion Ravan HASANZADE (AZE) 7-2 using his attacking style. After being put on the activity clock, Mills began his attacks and though he was not able to score in the 30-second, he hit a single leg for four points that gave him a 4-1 lead going into the break.

Hasanzade got on the leg attacks but Mills was quick to counter and scored an exposure for two points which was challenged by Azerbaijan. On review, it was given only two points for Mills and Azerbaijan lost the challenge and Mills reached the final 7-2.

Boustani had to stop some serious attacks from Masamune USHIMADO (JPN) in the second period. After taking a 6-0 lead, Boustani was put in danger by Ushimado as he scored a takedown. He then made it 6-3 with a stepout. With 13 seconds remaining, he hit another big throw but it was scored just two points as Boustani won 6-5.

The second finalist for the U.S. was Pan-Am U17 champion Arsenii KIKINIOU (USA) who came from behind to beat Morteza HAJ (IRI), 3-2, in the 65kg semifinals. Trailing 2-0, Kikiniou first scored a stepout and then managed to transition a leg attack into takedown with 13 seconds left. He held on to his lead to win.

For the gold, he will face 2024 silver medalist from 60kg, Huseyn ISMAYILOV (AZE) who barely went past Yeraly ASKERBEK (KAZ), 3-1, in the other semifinal. Ismayilov was down 1-1 on criteria but scored point just in time to win the match.

Mohammadparsa KARAMI (IRI) was the second finalist for Iran after he dominated Dinmukhammed KASSYMBEK (KAZ) and beat him 11-4 in the 80kg semifinals. For the gold, he will take on European U17 champion Artur KOSTIUK (UKR) after the Ukrainian earned himself a chance to win a world U17 goldm reaching the final with a 2-1 win over  Issa ZANGIEV (UWW).

At 55kg, returning bronze medalist from 51kg Jinnosuke OKONOGI (JPN) denied Greyton BURNETT (USA) after beating him 8-2 in the semifinal. Okonogi never let Burnett to settle down and scored three takedowns in his win.

Having already upgraded his medal, Okonogi will look to win the gold over Asian U17 silver medalist Abdumalik JALOLDINOV (UWW) who scored a late stepout to win his semifinal against Chingis SARYGLAR (UWW), who was a bronze medalist from 48kg last year.

At 110kg, it will be a battle of continental champions as European U17 champion Magomedrasul OMAROV (UWW) defeated Stefan STEFANOV (BUL), 2-0, after getting both passivity points.

He will take on Asian U17 champion LACKY (IND) who defeated European U17 champion Amirhossein NAGHDALIPOUR (IRI), via fall, with a comeback.

Naghdalipour led 5-0 when he got a par terre and as he tried the gut-wrench, Lacky blocked him and scored two points. A double-leg takedown made it 5-4.

Lacky was called passive in the second period and Naghdalipout got another point and led 6-4. That is when Lacky got hold of the Iranian and sent him for four points. Iran challenged and lost, making the score 9-6 for Lacky.

Naghdalipour scored a stepout to cut the lead to 9-7 but as he tried another takedown, Lacky slammed him for four and a turn before securing the fall just as the time expired.

RESULTS

48kg
GOLD: Ariah MILLS (USA) vs. Sina BOUSTANI (IRI)

SF 1: Ariah MILLS (USA) df. Ravan HASANZADE (AZE), 7-2
SF 2: Sina BOUSTANI (IRI) df. Masamune USHIMADO (JPN), 6-5

55kg
GOLD: Jinnosuke OKONOGI (JPN) vs. Abdumalik JALOLDINOV (UZB)

SF 1: Jinnosuke OKONOGI (JPN) df. Greyton BURNETT (USA), 8-2 
SF 2: Abdumalik JALOLDINOV (UZB) df. Chingis SARYGLAR (UWW), 2-1

65kg
GOLD: Arseni KIKINIOU (USA) vs. Huseyn ISMAYILOV (AZE)

SF 1: Arseni KIKINIOU (USA) df. Morteza HAJ (IRI), 3-2
SF 2: Huseyn ISMAYILOV (AZE) df. Yeraly ASKERBEK (KAZ), 3-1

80kg
GOLD: Artur KOSTIUK (UKR) vs. Mohammadparsa KARAMI (IRI)

SF 1: Artur KOSTIUK (UKR) df. Issa ZANGIEV (UWW), 2-1
SF 2: Mohammadparsa KARAMI (IRI) df. Dinmukhammed KASSYMBEK (KAZ), 11-4

110kg
GOLD: LACKY (IND) vs. Magomedrasul OMAROV (UWW)

SF 1: LACKY (IND) df. Amirhossein NAGHDALIPOUR (IRI), via fall (15-7)
SF 2: Magomedrasul OMAROV (UWW) df. Stefan STEFANOV (BUL), 2-0