#wrestlenursultan

Dilmukhamedov Thrills Home Crowd, Takes Down Titans to Make Greco 77kg Semis

By Ken Marantz

NUR-SULTAN, Kazakhstan (Sept. 16)--- Ashkat DILMUKHAMEDOV (KAZ) got the crowd roaring by knocking off a two-time Olympic champion. For an encore, he topped a former world champion to earn a place in the semifinals and earn his country a place at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics.

Dilmukhamedov defeated Roman VLASOV (RUS) and Viktor NEMES (SRB) in succession to make the semifinals of 77kg and highlight the qualifying rounds of the three remaining weight classes in Greco-Roman at the World Championships.

The Barys Arena crowd went crazy as Dilmukhamedov defeated double Olympic gold medalist Vlasov 3-0, then managed to get even louder when he held on for a 4-3 win over Nemes. That puts him into the semifinals against Tamas LORINCZ (HUN), the silver medalist a year ago in Budapest.  

Amir GHASEMI (IRI) knocked off reigning world champion on his way to the 130kg semifinals. (Photo: Gabor Martin)

For Iran, after coming away empty-handed from the first two days of action, the tournament finally started going its way when two of its wrestlers advanced to the semifinals and all three knocked off top seeds.

Alireza NEJATI (IRI) and Amir GHASEMI (IRI) made it to the semifinals at 60kg and 130kg, respectively, to also clinch spots for their country at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics. The top six finishers in each weight class earn tickets for their nation. 

The young Nejati, a world junior bronze medalist last year, topped second seed KIM Seunghak (KOR) 7-0 in the third round, then earned a spot in the final four against 2017 world champion Kenichiro FUMITA (JPN) by edging Ivo ANGELOV (BUL) 3-1.

Kenichiro FUMITA (JPN) took down returning world silver medalist Victor CIOBANU (MDA), 12-5 en route to the semifinals. (Photo: Tony Rotundo) 

Fumita advanced with a hard-fought 12-5 win over 2018 silver medalist Victor CIOBANU (MDA). Earlier, Fumita won a third-round showdown with Elmurat TASMURADOV (UZB), the 2018 world silver medalist at 63kg, winning by 9-1 technical fall.

The other semifinal will be a clash between defending champion Sergey EMELIN (RUS), who stormed his way through with three technical-fall victories without surrendering a point, and local star Mirambek AINAGULOV (KAZ). 

At 77kg, Mohammedali GERAEI (IRI) whipped top seed and 2018 silver medalist KIM Hyeonwoo (KOR) by 8-0 technical fall en route to the quarterfinals, but his run to gold was ended by Alex KESSIDIS (SWE), who won by technical fall and will face Karapet CHALYAN (ARM) in the semifinals.

Asian 130kg champion Ghasemi made his mark by beating defending champion and top seed Sergey SEMENOV (RUS) 6-4 in the second round, then advanced to the semifinals with a 3-1 win over Muminjon ABDULLAEV (UZB) in a rematch of the final from the Asian Championships. 

Riza KAYAALP (TUR) has outscored his three opponents 13-1 on his way to making the world semifinals. (Photo: Gabor Martin) 

He will next face Oscar PINO HINDS (CUB), while the other semifinal pits European champion Riza KAYAALP (TUR) against Eduard POPP (GER).  

The day session also included the repechage for places in the bronze-medal matches in the three weight classes that went through the qualifying phase on Sunday. Six more wrestlers secured berths for their country at Tokyo 2020 by advancing to the third-place playoffs.

The feature repechage match came at 67kg, where three-time world champion Frank STAEBLER (GER) forged out a 2-1 victory over two-time world champion RYU Hansu (KOR), with the decisive point coming on a stepout.

Both Staebler and Ryu had lost to Olympic champion Ismael BORREO (CUB) in one of the most stacked brackets of the tournament. Staebler will face Mohamed ELSAYED (EGY) for the bronze.

In the night session, the semifinals will be followed by the medal matches at 67kg, 87kg and 97kg.   

Day 3 results

Greco-Roman Pairings

60kg (39 entries)
Semifinal – Sergey EMELIN (RUS) vs Mirambek AINAGULOV (KAZ)
Semifinal – Kenichiro FUMITA (JPN) vs Alireza NEJATI (IRI)

67kg (41 entries)
Gold – Artem SURKOV (RUS) vs Ismael BORREO (CUB) 
Bronze –Mate NEMES (SRB) vs Fredrik BJERREHUUS (DEN)
Bronze – Frank STAEBLER (GER) vs Mohamed ELSAYED (EGY)

77kg (38 entries)
Semifinal – Alex KESSIDIS (SWE) vs Karapet CHALYAN (ARM)
Semifinal – Tamas LORINCZ (HUN) vs Ashkat DILMUKHAMEDOV (KAZ)

87kg (39 entries)
Gold – Zhan BELENIUK (UKR) vs Viktor LORINCZ (HUN) 
Bronze – Mikalai STADUB (BLR) vs Denis KUDLA (GER)
Bronze – Atabek AZISBEKOV (KGZ) vs Rustam ASSAKALOV (UZB)

97kg (37 entries)
Gold – Musa EVLOEV (RUS) vs Artur ALEKSANYAN (ARM) 
Bronze – Tadeuz MICHALIK (POL) vs Mihail KAJAIA (SRB)
Bronze – Cenk ILDEM (TUR) vs Giorgi MELIA (GEO)

130kg (31 entries)
Semifinal – Amir GHASEMI (IRI) vs Oscar PINO HINDS (CUB)
Semifinal – Eduard POPP (GER) vs Riza KAYAALP (TUR)

#WrestleBudapest

Budapest Ranking Series 2026 Day 4 Highlights

By Vinay Siwach

BUDAPEST, Hungary (July 18) -- The fourth day of the Budapest Ranking Series will see four Women's Wrestling - 53kg, 57kg, 72kg and 76kg and two Greco-Roman weight classes - 72kg and 87kg.

WATCH LIVE | LIVE MATCH ORDER | DAY 3 RESULTS

GR 87kg semifinals - An all Russian final is set at 87kg after Islam ALIEV (RUS) beats Beka MELELASHVILI (USA), 6-1, and Milad ALIRZAEV (RUS) gets a walkover from injured Asan ZHANYSHOV (KGZ).

GR 72kg semifinals - Rabil ASKEROV (RUS) starts with a stepout and then an arm-throw for four points gives him a 5-0 lead against Joni KHETSURIANI (GEO). Askerov then adds a takedown to lead 7-0 which he defends till the end of the clock and advance to the final. He will face another Georgian in the final after Nika BROLADZE (GEO) beats compatriot Mishiko ALEKSANDRIA (GEO), 4-2.

WW 76kg semifinals - Dymond GUILFORD (USA) scored a takedown and then turned Wenji LI (CHN) three times to win 8-0, a scoreless second period. Guilford will take on KAJAL (IND) after she defeated Alexandra ANGHEL (ROU). Kajal got the lead when Anghel was called passive before she scored two takedowns and extend it to 5-0. A feet-to-back for four points gave her a 9-0 win.

WW 57kg semifinals - Kexin HONG (CHN), the Asian champion, takes no time in completing a 10-0 technical superiority over Zhala ALIYEVA (AZE). Due to the long challenge review on Mat C, the other semifinal was delayed. Neha SHARMA (IND) scores two takedowns in the first period against Giullia PENALBAR (BRA) and then holds on to that lead for the win.

WW 53kg semifinals - Jonna MALMGREN (SWE) comes back in the second period with a big throw and pins Andreea ANA (ROU) to reach the final. On the other mat, Asian champion Jin ZHANG (CHN), down 6-0 against ANTIM (IND) also tried a fall but Antim defends for two points and then reverses the position for a point. When the time finishes, Antim leads 7-4 for the win but China challenges. On review, they add a point for Zhang's reversal but Antim still a 7-5 winner

Semifinals will begin at 13:30 hours local time

13:15: Asian champion Asan ZHANYSHOV (KGZ) and Ivan HUKLEK (CRO) both score turns from par terre but the former scores it after Huklek to take the last-point criteria to complete a 3-3 win and enter the 87kg semifinals.

12:55: KAJAL (IND) with a snap and go-behind for a takedown against Shuiyan CHENG (CHN) after the China wrestler was put on activity clock. With a 3-0 lead, Kajal plays out the second period to win the 76kg bout 3-0

12:42: Jonna MALMGREN (SWE) with a sweet pin over Madison PARKS (CAN) at 53kg. Malmgren witha takedown and then holds Parks on the mat with a turn to secure the fall.

12:33: ANTIM (IND) with a 10-0 technical superiority win over Cristelle RODRIGUEZ (USA) at 53kg. She scores all of her takedowns by pressuring the U.S. wrestlers out of position. Rodriguez fails to find any answers to Antim.

12:27: Tamas LEVAI (HUN) advances to the 87kg quarterfinals after a 7-0 win over Nursultan TURSYNOV (KAZ). Levai's par terre in the second period gave him a 3-0 lead from which he scored two turns to complete the win

12:25: After a long challenge review, Islam ALIEV (RUS) is the winner against Ali CENGIZ (TUR) at 87kg. Aliev with a takedown and turn to lead 4-0 and then gets par terre in the second period to make it 5-0. He throws Cengiz out of bounds for one points. Cengiz locks Aliev around the waist but the Russian counters with a front headlock throw for two points. Turkiye challenge that but lose and Aliev wins 9-0   

12:15: Milad ALIRZAEV (RUS) with three points in the second period to beat Jalgasbay BERDIMURATOV (UZB), 4-3, in a tough 87kg bout. He got the par terre and a turn to build his lead in the match.

12:02: World and Asian silver medalist Aiperi MEDET KYZY (KGZ) tried to hold on to her 1-1 criteria lead against Wenji LI (CHN) but the China wrestler gets to her legs, elevates it and pushes out Medet Kyzy with 2 seconds left and complete a 2-1 victory at 76kg.

11:58: Excellent pressure wrestling from ANTIM (IND) and she scores five takedowns with ease against Yuxuan LI (CHN) to complete a 10-0 technical superiority win and advance to the quarterfinals at 53kg in which she will face Cristelle RODRIGUEZ (USA)

11:50: Cristelle RODRIGUEZ (USA), who will be the United States representative at the World Championships, completes a 6-0 win over Nargiz SAMADOVA (AZE) with four points in first period and two in the second at 53kg.

11:37: Iryna KURACHKINA (BLR) is looking solid as ever. The former European champion hits a double leg blast for four points and complete a 12-1 victory over Tamara DOLLAK (HUN) at 57kg

11:35: Asian champion Jin ZHANG (CHN) pins Asmar JANKURTARAN (AZE) after building an 8-0 lead and enter the quarterfinals at 53kg. Zhang uses both her leg lace and gut-wrench to score her points

11:30: Jonna MALMGREN (SWE) chips away with three takedowns against NISHU (IND) to complete a controlled 6-2 victory and advance at 53kg.

11:20: Ivan HUKLEK (CRO) got the first par terre against Achiko BOLKVADZE (GEO) and then defended the par terre position when Bolkvadze got it in the second period. Down 1-1 on criteria, Bolkvadze challenged for a foul from Huklek during defense but none was confirmed on review, making Huklek a 2-1 winner at 87kg

11:05: In a Hungarian wrestle-off at 87kg, Istvan TAKACS (HUN) hangs on for a 2-1 victory over Tamas LEVAI (HUN) and takes a step towards making the team for the World Championships.

11:00: Tokyo Olympic medalist and former European champion Iryna KURACHKINA (BLR) blanks Asian champion Mengyu XIE (CHN), 5-0, at 57kg.   

10:50: Asian champion at 67kg Razzak BEISHEKEEV (KGZ) falls to Joni KHETSURIANI (GEO) after a 1-1 criteria loss. Khetsuriani with an escape when Beishekeev was working on par terre.

10:40: Early fireworks in Budapest. NISHU (IND) and Natia SVANIDZE (RUS) in a 21-point barn-burner. Svanidze raced to a 10-3 lead but Nishu with a stepout to add one point. Nishu then hits a four-pointer to close it to 10-7. With 14 seconds remaining, she adds a takedown on the edge before conforming an 11-10 with double-leg takedown in  last 5 seconds.