#Zagreb2018

Four Cadet World Medalists Move onto World Championship Semifinals in #Zagreb2018

Monday, July 2, 2018 - 14:50 By Taylor Miller

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ZAGREB, Croatia – Two Cadet World champions and two other World medalists are in the mix for World titles after advancing to Monday’s World Championship semifinals in Zagreb, Croatia.

World champions Alihasan AMIRLI (IRI) and Daniel KERKVLIET JR. (USA) are still on the path to repeating their 2017 gold-medal performances.

At 48 kg, Amirli started his tournament with a 4-0 win over 2017 Cadet World bronze medalist Kaisei TANABE (JPN). In tonight’s semifinals, Amirli will take on two-time World medalist Giorgi GEGELASHVILI (GEO), who won Cadet World bronze in 2016 and Cadet World silver last summer.

The other semifinal at 48 kg is Richard FIGUEROA II (USA) vs. Mykyta ABRAMOV (UKR).

Kerkvliet, competing at 110 kg, claimed a 10-0 quarterfinal win over Cadet Asian silver medalist Kumar ANIRUDH (IND), after collecting a pair of tech falls to open his tournament. Tonight, Kerkvliet will take on 2018 Cadet European champion Sergey KOZYREV (RUS).

Two additional continental medalists highlight the other semifinal at 110 kg as Cadet Asian gold medalist Amir ZARE (IRI) will face off against 2018 Cadet European silver medalist Islam ABUEV (AZE).

2017 Cadet World silver medalist Tuan BAYRAMOV (AZE) looks to improve on last year’s finish, advancing to the 65 kg semifinal. Bayramov, who also owns a bronze medal from the 2017 Cadet Euro Championships and a gold medal from the 2018 Cadet Euros, will go head-to-head with the 2018 Cadet Asian champion Mohammed KARIMISEIFABAD (IRI).  

The Cadet Asian silver medalist, Bekzat ZHALGASSOV (KAZ), is on the opposite side of the bracket and will face Inalbek SHERIEV (RUS) in the semifinals.

In addition to Karimiseifabad, there are two other 2018 Cadet Asian champions in the semifinals, including Hayato FUJITA (JPN) at 55 kg and Mohammadreza GHIYASI (IRI) at 80 kg.

Fujita will take on Cadet European silver medal winner Davidi ABDALADZE (GEO). The other semifinal at 55 kg is Simone PIRODDU (ITA) against 2017 Cadet Asian bronze medalist Jamshidbek MARUFOV (UZB).

At 80 kg, Ghiyasi will take on Sagadulla AGAEV (AZE) and Dmitrii ELKANOV (RUS) will challenge Milan KORCSOG (HUN).

The semifinals start at 6 p.m. local time (12 p.m. ET) and will be live on unitedworldwrestling.org.

Semifinal pairings

48 kg
Giorgi GEGELASHVILI (GEO) vs. Alihasan AMIRLI (AZE)  
Richard FIGUEROA II (USA) vs. Mykyta ABRAMOV (UKR)

55 kg
Simone PIRODDU (ITA) vs. Jamshidbek MARUFOV (UZB)
Daviti ABDALADZE (GEO) vs. Hayato FUJITA (JPN)

65 kg
Turan BAYRAMOV (AZE) vs. Mohammad KARIMISEIFABAD (IRI)
Bekzat ZHALGASSOV (KAZ) vs. Inalbek SHERIEV (RUS)

80 kg
Sagadulla AGAEV (AZE) vs. Mohammadreza Ezatollah GHIYASI (IRI)
Dmitrii ELKANOV (RUS) vs. Milan KORCSOG (HUN)

110 kg
Sergei KOZYREV (RUS) vs. Daniel KERKVLIET JR (USA)
Amir ZARE (IRI) vs. Islam ABUEV (AZE)

#WrestleBaku

Europe's best in Baku for Paris 2024 qualification in Greco-Roman

Thursday, April 4, 2024 - 11:01 By United World Wrestling Press

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BAKU, Azerbaijan (April 4) -- Europe qualified four wrestlers for the Paris Olympics at 87kg from the World Championships in Belgrade. That number is the highest for Europe in any Greco-Roman weight class.

Yet, some of the top wrestlers in the continent have not been able to earn a Paris 2024 spot. Those stars will clash at the European OG Qualifier in Baku from April 5 to 7 to earn the two quotas available at 87kg.

Leading the field at 87kg is newly minted European champion Aleksandr KOMAROV (SRB) who looked in top form at the European Championships. In the final, he even convincingly beat world champion Ali CENGIZ (TUR).

Islam ABBASOV (AZE) is seeded number one at 87kg and Komarov is number four resulting in the two falling on the same side of the bracket. The two met in the semifinal at the European Championships which Komarov won 3-1. European bronze medalist Kiyrl MASKEVICH (AIN) gets the second seed and Alex KESSIDIS (SWE) is third, putting them together on the lower side of the bracket.

Though they will be unseeded, former U23 world champion Milad ALIRZAEV (AIN) and former European champion Turpal BISULTANOV (DEN) will be roaring to go as the latter returns from injury. Former U23 world champion Exauce MUKUBU (NOR) also hopes to earn the quota.

A few other big clashes are expected in Baku, especially with wrestlers from non-Olympic weight classes moving to the Olympic ones.

Leri ABULADZE (GEO), a 63kg world champion, is moving down to 60kg to earn an Olympic quota. But it won't be easy for him. A two-time U23 world champion Anvar ALLAKHIAROV (AIN) and European champion Nihat MAMMADLI (AZE) will be the biggest challenges for the unseeded Abuladze.

Add to the line-up top seed and Tokyo Olympian Victor CIOBANU (MDA) who reached the final at the European Championships before losing to Mammadli. Ciobanu and Mammadli are separated by seeding and will not face each other in Baku. Leo TUDEZCA (FRA) enjoys the third seed and Jacopo SANDRON (ITA) will be seeded fourth.

Tokyo Olympic silver medalist Parviz NASIBOV (UKR) will be looking to return to the Olympics by winning a quota in Baku. He was at 72kg at the European Championships and won a bronze medal. The European champion at 72kg, Selcuk CAN (TUR), is dropping to 67kg.

Nasibov will be seeded number four in Baku which pits him on the same side as top seed Krisztian VANCZA (HUN). Mamadassa SYLLA (FRA) is seeded second with Mihai MIHUT (ROU) getting the third seed.

European bronze medalist Abu AMAEV (BUL) is entered for the tournament along with some hammers like Diego CHKHIKVADZE (GEO), Kristupas SLEIVA (LTU), Morten THORESEN (NOR), Gevorg SAHAKYAN (POL) and Niklas OEHLEN (SWE).

At 97kg, Magomed MURTAZALIEV (AIN) will look to build on his silver-medal finish at the European Championships and earn a spot for the Paris Games. He defeated Kiril MILOV (BUL) and Arvi SAVOLAINEN (FIN) before losing to Artur ALEKSANYAN (ARM).

Milov has pulled out due to an injury and will not be competing at the Paris Olympics. Savolainen will be in Baku and seeded number one for the competition followed by Mindaugas VENCKAITIS (LTU) at number two and Mihail KAJAIA (SRB) at three. Aleksandar STJEPANETIC (SWE) is seeded number four.

Alex SZOKE (HUN), Nikoloz KAKHELASHVILI (ITA), Tyrone STERKENBURG (NED) and Felix BALDAUF (NOR), among others, will be drawn randomly.

European champion and two-time Olympic medalist Sergei SEMENOV (AIN) has the best chance to earn a Paris 2024 spot. He stunned Riza KAYAALP (TUR) in the 130kg final, denying the legend a record-breaking 13th European title. Despite his gold, Semenov will be unseeded in Baku.

Romas FRIDRIKAS (LTU) is the top seed followed by 2012 London Olympic silver medalist Heiki NABI (EST) at second. Beka KANDELAKI (AZE) will be number three and Alin ALEXUC CIURARIU (ROU) is number four.

At 77kg, world champion at 72kg Ibrahim GHANEM (FRA), former world silver medalist Zoltan LEVAI (HUN), U23 world champion Alexandrin GUTU (MDA), Viktor NEMES (SRB) and former world champion Burhan AKBUDAK (TUR) will battle for the two spots.