Eltemirov, Pavlov win U23 European golds

Sunday, March 9, 2025 - 23:52 By United World Wrestling Press

TIRANA, Albania (March 9) -- Five months ago, Magomed ELTEMIROV (UWW) left Tirana with a medal around his neck, but the one that left a bitter aftertaste: A silver at the U23 World Championship.

That evening, he was defeated in a tense final by Magomed KHANIYEV (AZE). On Sunday, he made amends and although it wasn’t by defeating Khaniyev, Eltemirov walloped another Azerbaijani wrestler, Kanan HEYBATOV (AZE), to win his maiden U23 European Championship gold medal.

Eltemirov looked charged up even before his name was announced. He sprinted to the center and got down to business without wasting a second. After going up by a point following Heybatov’s failed challenge asking for a stepout, Eltemirov built a comfortable three-point cushion going into the break with a razor-sharp leg attack.

He never took his foot off the pedal as within 30 seconds of restart, Eltemirov threw Khaniyev on the mat using an underhook for two more points and seconds later, summoned all his upper-body strength to execute an over-under throw for four after his attempted ankle pick failed.

Heybatov attempted a desperate single-leg attack which Eltemirov blocked and when Heybatov tried a counter lift, Eltermirov scored exposure to finish the match 11-0 with 1:25 remaining on the clock.

Lev PAVLOV (UWW) hits a match-winning cradle on Nika ZANGALADZE (GEO) in the 57kg final. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kostadin Andonov)

The 21-year-old led a procession of wrestlers representing the UWW to the top of the podium and most dominated. Another wrestler to win his first U23 European title was Lev PAVLOV (UWW), a multiple time age-group world medalist.

For close to five minutes and 30 seconds, not much happened in the 57kg freestyle final between Pavlov and Nika ZANGALADZE (GEO). Then, in a frenzied end, everything happened all at once: two stunning takedowns, dogged defending and a desperate bid to snatch a win from the jaws of defeat.

Ultimately, Pavlov won 6-1 to take home the first gold medal of the U23 European Championships in Tirana. The scoreline, however, barely suggests how close the bout was.

Both wrestlers traded passivity points — Zangaladze was penalised first before Pavlov was docked a point in the second period. It stayed 1-1 until the last 30 seconds when the match exploded.

With his super-quick reflexes, Pavlov scored a duck-under to cradle for a takedown and transitioned into arm-trap roll for two more points. That swung the momentum in his favor and then defended strongly to emerge victorious.

Arsen BALAIAN (UWW) survived a last-minute attack from Farid JABBAROV (AZE) to secure the 79kg gold medal. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kostadin Andonov)

The evening’s fourth final, between Arsen BALAIAN (UWW) and Farid JABBAROV (AZE) at 79kg followed a similar pattern, wherein both wrestlers were cautioned — and penalized a point each — for passivity.

Balaian, who had two bronze medals in the U23 category last year in Europe and Worlds, began the second round a point down. However, he overturned the scoreline and made it 2-1 by winning two passivity points of his own. With only 41 seconds remaining in the match when he went into the lead, Balaian could have opted for a strong defence.

He tried that and was nearly caught out when Jabbarov got hold of his left leg with only 10 seconds left to play. But a steely Balaian refused to give up and instead turned around the position, gained control and exposed Jabbarov to go 4-1 up. Jabbarev challenged the final move but it was ruled against him, handing Balaian the title after two near-misses.

Amal DZHANDUBAEV (UWW) secured the 65kg gold over Abdullah TOPRAK (TUR). (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kadir Caliskan)

At 65kg, Amal DZHANDUBAEV (UWW) had to fight back with all his might to secure the title. At the midway point of the gold medal bout, it looked like Dzhandubaev will comfortably win as he had a 5-0 lead but Abdullah TOPRAK (TUR) used a seatbelt throw for four to make score 5-4.

But Dzhandubaev did not falter even after the throw and kept his attacks, scored a stepout to make it 6-4. Defending that lead for final seconds, Dzhandubaev secured the gold, four years after he was crowned the U17 European champion.

At 97kg, Uladzislau KAZLOU (UWW) edging past Bady SAMDAN (UWW) 2-1 to reign supreme in the 97 kg category. Samdan had a 1-0 lead but Kazlou scored a stepout to lead 1-1 on criteria at the break. In the second period, Samdan was put on the 30-second activity clock in which he failed to score, handing Kazlou the win.

Rakhim MAGAMADOV (FRA) celebrates after beating Arslan BAGAEV (UWW) in the semifinal. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kostadin Andonov)

Magamadov eyes gold

After two failures to get past him in 2024, Rakhim MAGAMADOV (FRA) managed to beat Arslan BAGAEV (UWW) in the 86kg semifinals on Sunday. He shut Bagaev down for a 6-0 lead. Magamadov had lost to Bagaev in the U23 Euro final and the World Military Championships final in 2024.

He will face U23 world silver medalist Arsenii DZHIOEV (AZE) for the gold medal. The Azerbaijan wrestler had lost to Bagaev in the final of the U23 Worlds last year.

Volodymyr KOCHANOV (UKR) will be hoping to win Ukraine’s first gold medal of the U23 European Championship when he takes on Georgi IVANOV (BUL) in the 125kg final.

Kochanov has two U23 medals but on both occasions — he won European U23 silver in 2023 and U23 Worlds bronze last year — fell short of a top-of-the-podium finish. The final against Ivanov offers him that chance and to avenge his 2023 U23 Euro final loss to the Bulgarian.

RESULTS

57kg
GOLD: Lev PAVLOV (UWW) df. Nika ZANGALADZE (GEO), 6-1

BRONZE: Bekir KESER (TUR) df. Ion BULGARU (MDA), 18-14
BRONZE: Rahman IMANOV (AZE) df. Vladyslav ABRAMOV (UKR), 8-6

65kg
GOLD: Amal DZHANDUBAEV (UWW) df. Abdullah TOPRAK (TUR), 6-4

BRONZE: Khamzat ARSAMERZOUEV (FRA) df. Hayk ABRAHAMYAN (ARM), 3-2
BRONZE: Murad HAGVERDIYEV (AZE) df. Fiodor CEAVDARI (MDA), 9-6

70kg
GOLD: Magomed ELTEMIROV (UWW) df. Kanan HEYBATOV (AZE), 11-0

BRONZE: Umut ERDOGAN (TUR) df. Pavel GRAUR (MDA), 5-1
BRONZE: Narek POHOSIAN (UKR) df. Muhammad ABDURACHMANOV (BEL), 2-0

79kg
GOLD: Arsen BALAIAN (UWW) df. Farid JABBAROV (AZE), 5-1

BRONZE: Ibrahim YAPRAK (TUR) df. Aykan SEID (BUL), 11-0
BRONZE: Umar MAVLAEV (SUI) df. Giorgi GOGRITCHIANI (GEO), 8-7

97kg
GOLD: Uladzislau KAZLOU (UWW) df. Bady SAMDAN (UWW), 2-1

BRONZE: Resul GUNE (TUR) df. Adam JAKSIK (SVK), via fall
BRONZE: David MCHEDLIDZE (UKR) df. Nikolaos KARAVANOS (GRE), 6-1

Semifinals

61kg
GOLD: Jeyhun ALLAHVERDIYEV (AZE) vs. Levik MIKAYELYAN (ARM)

SF 1: Jeyhun ALLAHVERDIYEV (AZE) df. Besir ALILI (MKD), 5-4
SF 2: Levik MIKAYELYAN (ARM) df. Mykyta ABRAMOV (UKR), 11-1

74kg
GOLD: Aghanazar NOVRUZOV (AZE) vs. Ismail KHANIEV (UWW)

SF 1: Aghanazar NOVRUZOV (AZE) df. Manuel WAGIN (GER), 4-2
SF 2: Ismail KHANIEV (UWW) df. Bohdan OLIINYK (UKR), 10-0

86kg
GOLD: Arsenii DZHIOEV (AZE) vs. Rakhim MAGAMADOV (FRA)

SF 1: Arsenii DZHIOEV (AZE) df. Radomir STOYANOV (BUL), via fall
SF 2: Rakhim MAGAMADOV (FRA) df. Arslan BAGAEV (UWW), 6-0

92kg
GOLD: Knyaz IBOYAN (ARM) vs. Mukhamed KHANIEV (UWW)

SF 1: Knyaz IBOYAN (ARM) df. Denys SAHALIUK (UKR), 10-0
SF 2: Mukhamed KHANIEV (UWW) df. Sadig MUSTAFAZADE (AZE), 12-1

125kg
GOLD: Volodymyr KOCHANOV (UKR) vs. Georgi IVANOV (BUL)

SF 1: Volodymyr KOCHANOV (UKR) df. Khachatur KHACHATRYAN (ARM), 10-0
SF 2: Georgi IVANOV (BUL) df. Efe AL (TUR), via fall (12-1)

#WrestleIstanbul

Saori Yoshida's niece Chisato wins U17 world gold

Thursday, August 3, 2023 - 18:38 By Vinay Siwach

ISTANBUL (August 3) -- With lessons from last year's loss and advice from 13-time world and three-time Olympic champion Saori YOSHIDA (JPN) -- and her aunt, no less -- Chisato YOSHIDA (JPN) won her first U17 world title in Istanbul, Turkiye on Thursday.

She was one of the three champions Japan crowned as it continues to dominate Women's Wrestling in all competitions. The United States won the remaining two finals as the first five gold medals were awarded in Istanbul.

Yoshida, who suffered a 3-1 loss to HARSHITA (IND) at 69kg in Rome last year, changed her tactics this year and upgraded her silver medal to gold.

"I'm going to fight until the very end and score a clean win," Yoshida was quoted as saying after her silver medal in Rome.

In the 65kg final on Thursday, Yoshida did leave it late but managed to win clean against Duygu GEN (TUR). She opted for a desperate slide-by in the final 15 seconds to score the match-winning takedown.

The 16-year-old from the Aichi Prefecture led 1-0 at the break as Gen was called for her inactivity but the Turkish wrestler got the 1-1 criteria lead after Yoshida was warned of the same in the second period. But Yoshida remained calm and scored a slide-by takedown to lead 3-1 before trying to arm-bar Gen which gave her two more points and a 5-1 win.

Yoshida, who stands at just 1.53 meters, celebrated her win by jumping around perhaps overcoming her loss from a year ago.

The daughter of Saori's elder brother Hidetoshi, Yoshida has been training since she was two years old and like Saori, she began training at the wrestling school her late grandfather Eikatsu founded in central Japan's Mie Prefecture.

Sowaka UCHIDA (JPN) defended her 57kg gold medal by beating Eylem ENGIN (TUR). (Photo: UWW / Kadir Caliskan)

Joining Yoshida on the top of the podium was Sowaka UCHIDA (JPN) who defended her gold medal at 57kg in a similar run as she had in Rome. She had outscored her opponents 30-0 in four bouts in Rome and in Istanbul, she outscored her opponents 48-4 with only NEHA (IND) able to score on her.

While the host country Turkiye was hoping for an upset and win for Eylem ENGIN (TUR), Uchida was in no mood to grant that wish. She went to work from the first whistle and scored her first takedown using an outside single. She repeated the sequence with another single to her left and tried to get hold of the arm for the pin. But she managed only a takedown before transitioning into a leg lace to extend her lead 6-0.

With a minute and 32 seconds remaining on the clock, Yoshida completed her 10-0 win over Engin and added a second world title to her name.

Rinka OGAWA (JPN) locked Sviatlana KATENKA (AIN) a leg-lace and won the 49kg final 11-0. (Photo: UWW / Kadir Caliskan)

The third gold medal for Japan was won by Rinka OGAWA (JPN) at 49kg as she humbled two-time U17 European champion Sviatlana KATENKA (AIN) in the final. She needed only a minute and 36 seconds to claim the gold.

Katenka was warned for her passivity and while was trying to evade Ogawa's underhooks, Ogawa came out with a strong snap and scored her first takedown. She then locked up Katenka in a leg lace and finished the bout with four turns.

Morgan TURNER (USA) celebrates after scoring in the final seconds against Mona EZAKA (JPN) to win the 43kg gold medal. (Photo: UWW / Kadir Caliskan)

U.S wins 2 golds

Japan had the chance to have four world champions on Thursday but Morgan TURNER (USA) pulled off a clutch win at 43kg to deny Japan the gold medal.

Turner, who is a U17 Pan-Am champion from 2021, scored an exposure in the dying seconds of the final to beat the clock and Mona EZAKA (JPN) who left the mat in tears.

"I have been waiting for this since winning the world team trials so like six months," Turner said. "But I still want to win the Olympics. I don't want to be known only as the U17 world champ."

While the final was frantic in the second period, it began on a very slow note in the first as Ezaka was called passive and Turner got the first point on the board. Ezaka took the 1-1 criteria lead for Turner's passivity despite the American's effort to score a point in the activity period.

Turner kept her attacks going and in one sequence pushed Ezaka to the danger zone but the Japanese wrestler snuck out to score a stepout and lead 2-1.

"I had to be low because she was shorter than me," she said explaining her strategy for the final. "I knew I had to push the pace of the match."

The 16-year-old then went for a final attempt and tried a go-behind before switching to an arm-bar, turning Ezaka's shoulders more than 90 degrees and scoring two points. The officials did not score the points initially but the United States challenged and on review, two points were awarded to Turner, making her a 3-2 winner and a world champion.

"I knew I had to keep wrestling, keep pushing no matter the circumstances," she said. "She [Ezaka] is a great competitor. They train very well and I don't see any team like Japan. I don't think I will endure a practice like they do."

Turner's win over Ezaka, who lost her second straight U17 Worlds final, was the first time since 2015 that a wrestler from the U.S. managed to beat a Japanese wrestler, on the seventh attempt, in a gold medal bout.

Piper FOWLER (USA) defeated Lotta ENGLICH (GER) in the 73kg final to win the U17 World Championships gold. (Photo: UWW / Kadir Caliskan)

Though she did not beat a Japanese wrestler in the final, Piper FOWLER (USA) defeated returning bronze medalist Lotta ENGLICH (GER) to win the gold medal at 73kg, marking the first time an American wrestler has won the highest weight class at this age-group.

"It's always been a dream of mine [to win world title]," Fowler said. "It's hard work and you have to have confidence in yourself to be able to win big tournaments."

In the final, Fowler got the advantage as she was the aggressor and Englich was put on the activity clock. After being 1-0 up, Fowler countered an Englich attack by getting on a double-leg before going head-outside for a takedown. That gave her a 3-0 lead at the break

In the second period, Fowler planted her underhooks each time Englich tried going for attacks. While that put her on that activity clock late in the bout, she scored exposure from a cradle two seconds before the clock expired and extended her lead to 5-0. Englich scored a counter exposure but it was too little too late as Fowler won 5-2 to give the United States its second gold of Women's Wrestling.

On Wednesday, Fowler had defeated Ako UCHIYAMA (JPN) 6-0 in the opening bout, Laia HORTA (ESP) 13-0 in the quarterfinals and Aliaksandra KAZLOVA (AIN) 10-2 to reach the final against Englich who was trying to become only the third female from Germany to win a U17 world title.

"It was a hard match," she said. "I knew what I needed to do [to win] and stay out of positions. Getting a takedown always puts you ahead as you get points and then be steady after that, get to ties and get to attacks."

Fowler has now joined a growing list of U.S. women's wrestlers with a world title at the heaviest weight class. She said that she has looked up to all the wrestlers who have been at this stage before her.

"I have always looked up to those women, especially Adeline GRAY (USA)," she said. "It's incredible to see the things they do. I am just here to continue what they started.

MUSKAN (IND) will try to win her second U17 Worlds gold after she reached the 46kg final. (Photo: UWW / Ulug Han)

Japan, India enter 4 in WW finals

Japan managed to send four more wrestlers into the final on Thursday as it had done on Wednesday. India, after a disappointing start to Women's Wrestling on Wednesday, bounced back and placed four wrestlers in the final as well.

At 40kg, Koharu AKUTSU (JPN) rode on a second-period takedown against U17 European champion Klara WINKLER (GER) after the two wrestlers exchanged passivity points to confirm her spot in the final against RACHANA (IND). The Indian wrestler was involved in a thriller against Jaclyn BOUZAKIS (USA) but secured exposure in the final 10 seconds to win 5-4.

Sakura ONISHI (JPN) tries to pin Karlee BROOKS (USA) on her way to the 53kg final. (Photo: UWW / Ulug Bugra Han)

Sakura ONISHI (JPN) made it to her second straight U17 Worlds final as she defeated Fabiana RINELLA (ITA) 11-0 in the 53kg semifinal. Last year, Onishi suffered a heartbreaking loss to Mariia YEFREMOVA (UKR) and finished with a silver medal. To win her first U17 world title, she will wrestle Olga OVCHINNIKOVA (AIN) who pinned Sakibjamal ESBOSYNOVA (UZB) in the other semifinal at 53kg.

U17 world champion at 43kg, MUSKAN (IND) reached another U17 world final after she pinned Meiramgul AKHMETZHAN (KAZ) in the 46kg semifinals. Muskan was dominant throughout the day and will take on Natsumi MASUDA (JPN) for the gold medal. Masuda survived a scare against Daniella BEKY (NOR) when the Norway wrestler had Masuda locked in a double-arm and was looking for a pin. After scraping out of that position, Masuda finished the semifinal 12-2.

In another Japan vs. Norway semifinal, Konami ONO (JPN) pinned Leah SAMSONSEN (NOR) in the 61kg semifinal and she will now take on returning champion SAVITA (IND) who defeated Haylie JAFFEE (USA) 10-0, using five takedowns via her quick attacks.

An all-Balkan semifinal was held at 69kg as returning bronze medalist and U17 European champion Veronika VILK (CRO) defeated Evelin UJHELJI (SRB), 6-2, to reach the final as she tries to win a historic world title for Croatia. She will have to go past SRISHTI (IND) to do that as the Indian reached the final from the other side of the bracket after beating Jasmine ROBINSON (USA), 8-5, in a close semifinal.

RESULTS

43kg
GOLD: Morgan TURNER (USA) df. Mona EZAKA (JPN), 3-2

BRONZE: Nilufar NURMUKHAMMADOVA (UZB) df. Alina MAZHAROUSKAYA (AIN), 10-0
BRONZE: Aleksandra BEREZOVSKAIA (AIN) df. Maria GKIKA (GRE), 5-1

49kg
GOLD: Rinka OGAWA (JPN) df. Sviatlana KATENKA (AIN), 11-0

BRONZE: Tana TIULIUSH (AIN) df. DRISHTI (IND), 4-4
BRONZE: Heather CRULL (USA) df. Lonisa REKA (KOS), 10-0

57kg
GOLD: Sowaka UCHIDA (JPN) df. Eylem ENGIN (TUR), 10-0

BRONZE: Viktoria BOYNOVA (BUL) df. Aziza KELDIBEKOVA (KGZ), 5-4
BRONZE: NEHA (IND) df. YeoJin MIN (KOR), 10-0

65kg
GOLD: Chisato YOSHIDA (JPN) df. Duygu GEN (TUR), 5-1

BRONZE: Margarita SALNAZARIAN (AIN) df. Mukhayyo RAKHIMJONOVA (UZB), via fall (5-0)
BRONZE: Mouda HAMDOUN (EGY) df. Maryia MAKARCHANKA (AIN), via fall (10-4)

73kg
GOLD: Piper FOWLER (USA) df. Lotta ENGLICH (GER), 5-2

BRONZE: Aliaksandra KAZLOVA (AIN) df. Ako UCHIYAMA (JPN), 2-0
BRONZE: Elmira YASIN (TUR) df. Asaloy AMANGELDIEVA (UZB), 6-0

Veronika VILK (CRO) will try to win Croatia's first-ever wrestling world title on Friday. (Photo: UWW / Ulug Bugra Han)

Semifinals

40kg
GOLD: RACHANA (IND) vs. Koharu AKUTSU (JPN)

SF 1: RACHANA (IND) df. Jaclyn BOUZAKIS (USA), 5-4
SF 2: Koharu AKUTSU (JPN) df. Klara WINKLER (GER), 4-1

46kg
GOLD: Natsumi MASUDA (JPN) vs. MUSKAN (IND)

SF 1: Natsumi MASUDA (JPN) df. Daniella BEKY (NOR), 12-2
SF 2: MUSKAN (IND) df. Meiramgul AKHMETZHAN (KAZ), via fall

53kg
GOLD: Olga OVCHINNIKOVA (AIN) vs. Sakura ONISHI (JPN)

SF 1: Olga OVCHINNIKOVA (AIN) df. Sakibjamal ESBOSYNOVA (UZB), via fall
SF 2: Sakura ONISHI (JPN) df. Fabiana RINELLA (ITA), 11-0

61kg
GOLD: Konami ONO (JPN) vs. SAVITA (IND)

SF 1: Konami ONO (JPN) df. Leah SAMSONSEN (NOR), via fall
SF 2: SAVITA (IND) df. Emma JAFFEE (USA), 10-0

69kg
GOLD: Veronika VILK (CRO) vs. SRISHTI (IND)

SF 1: Veronika VILK (CRO) df. Evelin UJHELJI (SRB), 6-2
SF 2: SRISHTI (IND) df. Jasmine ROBINSON (USA), 8-5

Eltemirov, Pavlov win U23 European golds

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Saori Yoshida's niece Chisato wins U17 world gold