#Zagreb2018

Five Continental Champions Highlight Cadet World Semifinals

By Taylor Miller

ZAGREB, Croatia – The semifinals for the second set of men’s freestyle weights have been determined at the 2018 Cadet World Championships, which feature five 2018 Cadet continental champions.

Included in that group are Rahman AMOUZADKHALILI (IRI) at 45 kg, Adem UZUN (TUR) at 51 kg, Hamza ALACA (TUR) at 60 kg, Bagrati GAGNIDZE (GEO) at 71 kg and Ali Reza ABDOLLAHI (IRI) at 92 kg.

Amouzadkhalili, who won the 2018 Cadet Asian Championships, will wrestle Ahmet YUCEL (TUR), while the other semi at 48 kg will feature Rafayel HARUTYUNYAN (ARM) and Chance LAMER (USA).

Cadet European champion Uzun, who finished fifth at the 2016 Cadet Worlds in Greco and fifth at the 2017 Cadet Worlds in freestyle, will wrestle Kota TAKAHASHI (JPN) in the 51 kg semis.

On the other side of the bracket Matthew RAMOS (USA) and Seyedfran JAFARIANGELYERD (IRI) will go head-to-head.

Three-time Cadet European medalist and 2018 Cadet European champion Alaca will face off against Shamil MAMEDOV (RUS) at 60 kg tonight.

Cadet World veteran Georgios KOUGIOUMTSIDIS (GRE), who is making his third appearance to the World Championships, has already guaranteed his best finish at the event, heading to the 60 kg semis. He will face Sabir JAFAROV (AZE).

This year’s Cadet Asian champion Bagrati GAGNIDZE (GEO) headlines the 71 kg semifinals and will go up against Dominik MEZEI (HUN), while the other match pits Alex FACUNDO (USA) against Baliyan GOURAV (IND).

At 92 kg, there are three continental medalists. Leading the way is Cadet Asian champion Abdollahi. In the semis, he will take on Johannes MAYER (GER), who was the silver-medal winner at the 2018 Cadet European Championships.

Last year’s Cadet Euro silver medalist Omer AGTAS (TUR) advanced to the semifinals and will face Giorgi CHANKSELIANI (GEO) for a bid to the finals.

The semifinals for the above five weights will be contested at 5:30 p.m. local time (11:30 a.m. ET), followed by the finals at 48 kg, 55 kg, 65 kg, 80 kg and 110 kg live on unitedworldwrestling.com.

Semifinal pairings
48 kg
Ahmet YUCEL (TUR) vs. Rahman AMOUZADKHALILI (IRI)
Rafayel HARUTYUNYAN (ARM) vs. Chance LAMER (USA)

51 kg
Matthew RAMOS (USA) vs.
Seyedfran JAFARIANGELYERD (IRI)
Adem UZUN (TUR) vs. Kota TAKAHASHI (JPN)

60 kg
Sabir JAFAROV (AZE) vs. Georgios KOUGIOUMTSIDIS (GRE)
Shamil MAMEDOV (RUS) vs. Hamza ALACA (TUR)

71 kg
Bagrati GAGNIDZE (GEO) vs. Dominik MEZEI (HUN)
Alex FACUNDO (USA) vs. Baliyan GOURAV (IND)

92 kg
Omer AGTAS (TUR) vs. Giorgi CHANKSELIANI (GEO)
Johannes MAYER (GER) vs. Ali Reza ABDOLLAHI (IRI)

 

#development

Dominican Republic hosts flawless More Than Medals 2024 camp

By United World Wrestling Press

SANTO DOMINGO, Dominican Republic (August 3) — The Dominican Olympic Sports Center was the epicenter of a transformative experience for athletes and coaches. More Than Medals 2024 exceeded expectations, offering a comprehensive program that combined sports development with personal growth and community action.

For seven days, 13 countries and 32 wrestlers were immersed in an environment of learning and camaraderie. Top-notch facilities allowed for high-performance training, while workshops on nutrition, sports psychology, injury prevention, and leadership provided valuable tools for the athletes' future.

The week was marked by a series of specialized clinics led by experts in various areas:

  • Applied Psychology in Sports (Lic. Rusbel Salomón)
  • Nutrition Applied to Weight Control Sports (Dr. Francisco Soto)
  • Doping Prevention (Dra. Laura Anabel Pinedo)
  • Sports Injury Prevention (Lic. Abel Caballero)

These sessions enriched the participants' knowledge and promoted the importance of holistic health in sports.

Training sessions were led by each national coach, allowing everyone to experience different countries' training styles and learn new methods.

A fun activity day was organized with the support of the Dominican Wrestling Federation, including sightseeing in the traditional Santo Domingo neighborhood.

The commitment to the community was evident in the inspiring beach cleanup day. Athletes and coaches worked side by side to preserve the environment, demonstrating that sport can catalyze positive change.

The Dominican Wrestling Federation played a crucial role as the event's main organizer, demonstrating exceptional commitment and efficiency in ensuring the program’s success. Their collaboration, alongside the support of the Dominican Olympic Committee, was instrumental in creating a memorable and impactful experience for all participants.

More Than Medals 2024 also left a lasting impact on the Dominican sports community. Through exchanging knowledge and promoting values such as respect, inclusion, and solidarity, the program strengthened local sports and laid the foundation for a more promising future.

As a flagship initiative of United World Wrestling, More Than Medals continues to showcase the power of sport to unite people and generate positive change. We look forward to future editions of this inspiring program and the continued success of its mission.