#BuchaWrestU23

Elsayed Wins Egypt’s First World Gold Since 2006

Wednesday, November 14, 2018 - 19:11 By Taylor Miller

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Photo of  Mohamed Ibrahim ELSAYED (EGY) by Martin Gabor. 

BUCHAREST, Romania – For the first time in 12 years, at any age group and in any style, Egypt produced a World champion with Mohamed Ibrahim ELSAYED winning the U23 World title at 67 kg in Greco-Roman on Wednesday night in Bucharest, Romania.

The last Egyptian World champion was Mohamed Ibrahim Abdelfattah, who won a 2006 Senior World gold in Greco-Roman at 84 kg.

For Elsayed, it was a dominant run to the gold. At the break, Elsayed held a 2-0 lead over 2012 Cadet World champion Karim JAFAROV (AZE). From there, the Egyptian kept piling on the points, eventually shutting out his opponent for an 8-0 technical fall.

At 60 kg, Kenichiro FUMITA (JPN) won his second World title in as many years, picking up a technical fall in the gold-medal match.

Taking on Murad MAMMADOV (AZE) in the 60 kg final, Fumita trailed, 1-0, at the break. The second period saw big action from Fumita, who landed two big four-point throws and exposure. On his second throw, Fumita held Mammadov to his back for the fall at 4:37. The new U23 World champion led 10-1 at the time of the pin.

Last year, Fumita won gold at the 2017 Senior World Championships in Paris, France.

Russia picked up its first champion of the tournament as Aleksandr GOLOVIN (RUS) won his second-straight U23 World championship, holding off Zsolt TOEROEK (HUN). Golovin secured a 4-2 lead in the first period and added to it in the second period, drawing a passivity point from Toerek. The Russian held on for a 5-2 win.

After falling short in last year’s U23 World finals, Gela BOLKVADZE (GEO) made his way to the top of the podium, winning the 82 kg crown.

Despite a loud Romanian crowd surrounding him, Bolkvadze battled back from a 3-0 deficit against Nicu OJOG (ROU). With less than a minute left, Ojog was put down for passivity, giving 2015 Junior World champion Bolkvadze a chance on top.

The Georgian worked hard before exposing Ojog on a gut wrench to even it up 3-3 and hold onto an eventual win on criteria.

At 72 kg, 2018 U23 European silver medalist Cengiz ARSLAN (TUR) defeated two-time Junior World champion Ramaz ZOIDZE (GEO) with a 2-1 decision with no offensive points scored.

In the team race, Georgia ran away with the title, thanks to its three World champions, scoring 126 points. Russia was second as a team, putting up 101 points. Rounding out the top five was Turkey, Japan and Azerbaijan.  

Finals results

60 kg
GOLD – Kenichiro FUMITA (JPN) df. Murad MAMMADOV (AZE), 10-1
BRONZE – Kerem KAMAL (TUR) df. Islomjon BAKHRAMOV (UZB), 9-1
BRONZE – Mehdi Seifollah MOHSEN NEJAD (IRI) df. Armen MELIKYAN (ARM), 10-1

67 kg
GOLD – Mohamed Ibrahim ELSAYED (EGY) df. Karim JAFAROV (AZE), 8-0
BRONZE – Otto LOSONCZI (HUN) df. Ryo NAKAHASHI (JPN), 5-3
BRONZE – Alen MIRZOIAN (RUS) df. Murat FIRAT (TUR), 11-2 

72 kg
GOLD – Cengiz ARSLAN (TUR) df. Ramaz ZOIDZE (GEO), 2-1
BRONZE – Kaharman KISSYMETOV (KAZ) df. Narek OGANIAN (RUS), 5-0
BRONZE – Tamas LEVAI (HUN) df. Artur POLITAIEV (UKR), 9-0

82 kg
GOLD – Gela BOLKVADZE (GEO) df. Nicu OJOG (ROU), 3-3
BRONZE – Mikita KLIMOVICH (BLR) df. Takahiro TSURUDA (JPN), 10-0
BRONZE – Mahdi EBRAHIMI (IRI) df. Ahmed Hassan AHMED (EGY), 5-4 

97 kg
GOLD – Aleksandr GOLOVIN (RUS) df. Zsolt TOEROEK (HUN), 5-2  
BRONZE – Ali HEIDARI (IRI) df. Orkhan NURIYEV (AZE), 2-1
BRONZE – Giorgi MELIA (GEO) df. Nikoloz KAKHELASHVILI (ITA), 3-1

Team results (top five)
1. Georgia – 126
2. Russia – 101
3. Turkey – 87
4. Japan – 80
5. Azerbaijan – 71

 

Takhti Cup

Yazdani-Karimi wrestle off for Iran's World team spot

Monday, June 13, 2022 - 14:12 By Ali Feizasa

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TONEBABON, Iran (June 13) -- Mohammadhossein MOHAMMADIAN (IRI) last won a World Championships medal in 2014. Competing at 86kg, he won a bronze medal. Since then, he has moved up to 97kg and will be fighting for his spot on Iran's national team for the Belgrade World Championships.

But achieve his second World Championships medal, Mohammdian will have to go through Mojtaba GOLEIJ (IRI) as the '21 Worlds bronze medalist won the gold medal at the prestigious Takhti Cup last week.

The tournament was a qualifying step for the wrestlers to enter the selection trials for the World Championships that will be held in Belgrade from September 10 to 18.

At 97kg, Goleij came home with a narrow 2-1 win against Amirali AZARPIRA (IRI) to book his spot in the trials against Mohammdian. The two will be the options for Iran's coaching board for Belgrade.

Alireza KARIMI (IRI)Alireza KARIMI (IRI) will have to outlast Hassan YAZDANI (IRI) to make the Iran team at 86kg. (Photo: UWW / Amirreza Aliasgari)

A big match-up was also set at 86kg. After achieving three World Championships medals over the last six years, Alireza KARIMI (IRI) missed his spot on the national team due to injury for three years. He made a move up to 97kg before 2019 and had mixed success. He did win a silver medal at the '19 Worlds at 92kg. But Karimi has made a return to 86kg and won the Takhti Cup gold.

Karimi downed former World silver Ezatollah AKBARI (IRI), 7-2 in the semifinal and earned a 6-0 victory against Hamed VAFAEIPOUR (IRI) in the final bout. But Karimi knows well that he has a big rock in front of him in the form of world champion Hassan YAZDANI (IRI) if he wants to make the national team again.

“Injuries made my way difficult and I couldn’t concentrate and train," Karimi said. "I had only two weeks training for Takhti Cup and my performance was not bad. All Iranian opponents except Yazdani competed in the Takhti Cup. I will continue my training to reach the national team spot."

Apart from the return of Karimi, the defeat of world silver medalist Alireza SARLAK (IRI) and the rise of cadet world champion 17-year-old Amirreza MASOUMI (IRI) were the highlights of the competition.

In absence of Tokyo Olympian Reza ATRI (IRI), U23 World bronze medalist Ahmad JAVAN (IRI) proved himself as the new flagbearer for Iran at the weight. He defeated Sarlak 3-2 in a thrilling final at 57kg.

Atri, who had not competed since a fifth-place finish at the Olympics, moved up a weight class and won the 61kg gold medal with a 6-2 win over Majid DASTAN (IRI).

European champion Arsen HARUTYUNYAN (ARM) was also entered at 61kg but ended with a bronze medal.

Amirreza MASOUMI (IRI)Amirreza MASOUMI (IRI), 17, won the 125kg gold at the Takhti Cup. (Photo: UWW / Amirreza Aliasgari)

Young Masoumi stars

The surprise of the tournament came at 125kg when Masoumi won the gold medal with ease at the weight class and earn himself a shot at making the World Championships team.

The name Masoumi would be familiar to fans. Fardin MASOUMI (IRI) was a 2009 World silver medalist and a fifth-place finisher at the '08 Beijing Olympics.

The four-time Asian champion's son Amirreza stood by the family reputation and beat Mahdi HASHEMI (IRI) 7-0 via cautions in the final to celebrate his senior debut.

Still a junior, it was at the insistence of the coaching staff that Masoumi jumped up to the senior level.

“I am 17 and it is my first year in junior level but national team coaches decided I compete in senior level," Masoumi said. "I am very happy for the gold especially for making my father and my coach happy.”

Amirmohammad YAZDANI (IRI)Amirmohammad YAZDANI (IRI) will be eyeing the 70kg spot on the Iran national team. (Photo: UWW / Amirreza Aliasgari)

In other weight classes, Amirmohammad YAZDANI (IRI) strengthened his position at 70kg. After winning the silver medal in Oslo at 65kg, Yazdani moved up to 70kg and won gold at the Yasar Dogu Ranking Series event.

Now, the 21-year-old strengthened his position on Iran national team by winning the gold last week. He passed two Armenian wrestlers to capture the title. He first downed Narek HARUTYUNYAN (ARM) 6-0 in the semifinal and then humbled European silver medalist Arman ANDREASYAN (ARM), 3-1 in the summit clash.

“All Iranian rivals competed in Takhti Cup," Yazdani said. "My final rival was 2022 European champion [silver] and I hope these titles continue for me. I am like a soldier for the Iranian national team and we obey all decisions of the coaching board."

Vazgen TEVANYAN (ARM)Vazgen TEVANYAN (ARM) was the lone non-Iranian gold medalist at the Takhti Cup. (Photo: UWW / Amirreza Aliasgari)

An Armenian wrestler did take home a gold medal as Vazgen TEVANYAN (ARM) became the only non-Iranian champion at 65kg. He won a high-stake final against Tokyo Olympian Morteza GHIASI (IRI) 5-3.

Iran is looking for a successor at 74kg and Mohammadsadgeh FIROUZPOUR (IRI) has so far begun well. Like his brother Amirhossein, Mohammadsadgeh is taking one step at a time. The two grabbed the junior and U23 world medals last year and are moving up to the senior level. Amirhossein won the Asian Championships gold at 92kg before winning silver at the Ranking Series event in Almaty in June at 97kg.

Mohammadsadgeh FIROUZPOUR (IRI)Mohammadsadgeh FIROUZPOUR (IRI) won the gold at 74kg. (Photo: UWW / Amirreza Aliasgari)

Mohammadsadegh stepped up and won the Takhti Cup gold at 74kg by defeating Hamed RASHIDI (IRI), 1-1, in a close final.

World silver medalist Mohammad NOKHODI (IRI) proved himself the favorite to attend the World Championships at 79kg. He had a dominant run at the Takhti Cup as he reached the final with ease. His only test came in the gold medal bout but he succeed to beat Mostafa GHIASI (IRI) 7-5.

At 92kg, junior world champion Mahdi HAJILOUEIAN (IRI) sprung a surprise and won the gold over Asian silver medalist and Yasar Dogu champion Ahmad BAZRI (IRI). Hajiloueian earned a 6-3 victory in the final after two 11-0 wins against Beka TCHELIDZE (GEO) and Sobhan ASGHARI (IRI).

Results

57kg
GOLD: Ahmad JAVAN (IRI) df. Alireza SARLAK (IRI), 3-2

BRONZE: Reza MOMENI (IRI)
BRONZE: Saber KHANJANI (IRI)

61kg
GOLD: Reza ATRI (IRI) df. Majid DASTAN (IRI), 6-2

BRONZE: Daryoush HAZRATGHOLIZADEH (IRI)
BRONZE: Arsen HARUTYUNYAN (ARM)

65kg
GOLD: Vazgen TEVANYAN (ARM) df. Morteza GHIASI (IRI), 5-3

BRONZE: Mohammadreza BAGHERI (IRI)
BRONZE: Iman SADEGHI (IRI)

70kg
GOLD: Amirmohammad YAZDANI (IRI) df. Arman ANDREASYAN (ARM), 3-1

BRONZE: Yousef KAMRANI (IRI)
BRONZE: Hoseein ABOUZARI (IRI)

74kg
GOLD: Mohammadsadegh FIROUZPOUR (IRI) df. Hamed RASHIDI (IRI), 1-1

BRONZE: Khachatur PAPIKYAN (ARM)
BRONZE: Mohammadreza ASKARPOUR (IRI)

79kg
GOLD: Mohammad NOKHODI (IRI) df. Mostafa GHIASI (IRI), 7-5

BRONZE: Amirhossein KAVOUSI (IRI)
BRONZE: Mohammadhossein NOROUZYAN (IRI)

86kg
GOLD: Alireza KARIMI (IRI) df. Hadi Vafaeipour (IRI), 7-2

BRONZE: Ali MANSOURI (IRI)
BRONZE: Ezzatollah AKBARI (IRI)

92kg
GOLD: Mahdi HAJILOUEIAN (IRI) df. Ahmad BAZRI (IRI), 6-3

BRONZE: Sobhan ASGHARI Asghari (IRI)
BRONZE: Mohammadhossein MIRBAGHBAN (IRI)

97kg
GOLD: Mojtaba GOLEIJ (IRI) df. Amirali AZARPIRA (IRI), 2-1

BRONZE: Hossein RAMAZANYAN (IRI)
BRONZE: Danyal SHARIATINIA (IRI)

125kg
GOLD: Amirreza MASOUMI (IRI) df. Alireza GORZBAR (IRI), 7-0 (via VCA)

BRONZE: Mersad MARGHZARI (IRI)
BRONZE: Ali AKBARPOUR (IRI)