Four continental champs enter U17 World finals

Monday, July 25, 2022 - 18:22 By Vinay Siwach

ROME, Italy (July 25) -- Four different continental champions reached the gold medal bouts on day one of the U17 World Championships in Rome, Italy.

Ronit SHARMA (IND) at 48kg, Faraim MUSTAFAYEV (AZE) at 55kg, Joel ADAMS (USA) at 65kg and Laszlo DARABOS (HUN) at 110kg will be looking to add a world gold after being crowned continental champions last month.

Out of the five weight classes that were competed on the opening day at the Pala Pellicone, Azerbaijan put all five wrestlers into the semifinal with Turkey and Iran sending three each. India and Ukraine entered two wrestlers each in the semifinals while Kazakhstan, the USA, Bulgaria, Uzbekistan and Hungary put a wrestler each in the last four.

By the end of the day, Azerbaijan, India, Turkey and Iran managed to send two wrestlers each to the five finals, two of which will see rematches of the continental finals.

Ronit SHARMA (IND) defeated Said KHALILOV (AZE) 7-0 win the semifinals. (Photo: UWW / Martin Gabor)

Sharma set up a rematch of the U17 Asian Championships final against Ali AHMADI VAFA (IRI). He won the bout in Bishkek 7-6 despite losing the earlier group stage bout to Ahmadi Vafa. With the head-to-head record tied at 1-1, it will be interesting to see who takes the lead when the two clash in the final Tuesday.

Outscoring his opponents 26-0 in three bouts, Sharma was equally impressive in the semifinal against Said KHALILOV (AZE). He opened the scoring with a takedown and showcased solid defense using underhook. After the break, Khalilov was called passive which resulted in Sharma getting a turn from par terre to lead 5-0. He ended the bout 7-0.

Ahmadi Vafa had the same score against Arsen ZHUMA (KAZ), an Asian bronze medalist, in the semifinal. But his earlier bouts were close one-point wins. He began with a 2-1 win against Tigran GALSTYAN (ARM) before beating Kurmanbek ALIMZHANOV (KGZ) 5-4, thanks to a late exchange that resulted in two points for each wrestler.

U17 European champion Laszlo DARABOS (HUN), red, defeated U17 Asian champion Mohammad JAHANGIRI (IRI) in the 110kg quarterfinals. (Photo: Martin Gabor)

In another continental final rematch, U17 European champion at 110kg Laszlo DARABOS (HUN) will face Cemal BAKIR (TUR) on Tuesday.

Darabos dominated like he did in Bucharest a month ago and a golden repeat is on the cards if he continues his form Tuesday. He had pinned Bakir for the gold ar the Euros.

Incidentally, the semifinals at 110kg in Rome were the same as the U17 European Championships and both Darabos and Bakir ended up having similar scores from that tournament.

Darabos wrestled Dmytro STRYZHEKOZIN (UKR) in the semifinal and once the Ukrainian was called passive in the first period, the Hungarian wrestlers worked a strong gut wrench to end the bout 9-0 before the break.

In the quarterfinals, he defeated U17 Asian champion Mohammad JAHANGIRI (IRI) in a tense fashion, winning 5-4.

Bakir took a minute extra than Darabos but he got the job done in an equally dominant fashion. Mazaim MARDANOV (AZE) gave up a takedown in the first period to trail 2-0 at the break. But the referee called him passive and from there, Bakir scored six points, three turns from par terre, to win 9-0.

With the win, he gets a chance to avenge his European loss to Darabos and claim the gold medal at the World Championships.

Joel ADAMS (USA) hits a five-point throw against Takaku SUZUKI (JPN) at 65kg. (Photo: UWW / Kadir Caliskan)

One of the stars of the day was Joel ADAMS (USA) as the Pan-Am champion put on a show to reach the 65kg final against Ahoura BOUVEIRI (IRI).

Adams began the tournament with a dreamy five-pointer against Takaku SUZUKI (JPN). He then toyed with Saya BRUNNER (SUI) for an 8-0 win in the pre-quarters. He faced his toughest test in Aleksandre RUSITASHVILI (GEO) in the quarterfinals but dominated the bout for a 6-0 win.

In the semifinals, he was up against Petro SHAFRANSKYI (UKR) and began with a one-on-two drag and got the takedown. Just when Shafranskyi looked to get heavy in the second period, Adams hit a duck under and scored another takedown. He won 6-0 to set up the final against Ahoura BOUVEIRI (IRI).

Bouveiri defeated Ali ALIZADA (AZE), 1-1, as the two wrestlers exchanged passivity points in the semifinal.

At 55kg, Faraim MUSTAFAYEV (AZE) will look to add world gold to his European title after he reached the 55kg final. But he will have to work harder than he did Monday as he faces a strong opponent in SURAJ (IND).

Mustafayev wrestled three bouts to make the final and looked effortless in all of them. In the quarterfinal, he faced Saba SURMANIDZE (GEO) and pinned him, an equally dominant win as his European quarterfinals in which he won 8-0 against Surmanidze.

In the semifinal, Halil CINAR (TUR) tried stopping Mustafayev but got taken down early in the bout. Mustafayev used an exposure and stepout to lead 5-0. In the second period, he got a takedown and a big throw to win 11-0.

SURAJ (IND) will face European champion Faraim MUSTAFAYEV (AZE) for the 55kg gold in Rome. (Photo: UWW / Martin Gabor)

Suraj, who finished fifth at the U17 Asian Championships after losing to Khurshidbek NORMUKHAMMADOV (UZB) and then to Byeonggi SEO (KOR), avenged his opening round loss to Normukhammadov at the biggest stage. He beat the Uzbekistan wrestler 7-3 in the semifinal.

It looked like Normukhammadov will take the bout again after leading 3-0. But Suraj added a takedown before the break to cut the lead to 3-2. When he got the par terre advantage in the second period, he got two turns over Normukhammadov with ease and controlled the bout to win 7-3.

Ismayil RZAYEV (AZE) celebrates after beating Seyed Reza AZARSHAB (IRI) in the 80kg semifinal. (Photo: UWW / Martin Gabor)

At 80kg, a mini-European battle ensued throughout the day. In the end, silver medalist in Bucharest Ismayil RZAYEV (AZE) and fifth-placer Alperen BERBER (TUR) made it to the final and will wrestle for the gold.

European champion Mihai GUTU (MDA) lost to Luka GELASHVILI (GEO) 5-2 in the qualification. Later, Gelashvili suffered a 3-0 defeat against Berber, who had lost to Gutu in the opening rounds of the Euros.

In the semifinals, Rzayev faced U17 Asian silver medalist Seyed Reza AZARSHAB (IRI) but was quick to finish the bout after getting the gut wrench from par terre in a 9-0 win.

Berber too was quick to move on with a 9-0 win over Andrey ATANASOV (BUL) and set up the gold bout against Rzayev.

After the medal bouts of these five weights, qualifying and semifinals of the remaining five Greco-Roman weights -- 45kg, 51kg, 60kg, 71kg and 92kg -- will be in action Tuesday.

RESULTS

48kg
GOLD: Ronit SHARMA (IND) vs Ali AHMADI VAFA (IRI)

SF 1: Ronit SHARMA (IND) df. Said KHALILOV (AZE), 7-0
SF 2: Ali AHMADI VAFA (IRI) df. Arsen ZHUMA (KAZ), 7-0

55kg
GOLD: Faraim MUSTAFAYEV (AZE) vs SURAJ (IND)

SF 1: Faraim MUSTAFAYEV (AZE) df. Halil CINAR (TUR), 11-0
SF 2: SURAJ (IND) df. Khurshidbek NORMUKHAMMADOV (UZB), 7-3

65kg
GOLD: Joel ADAMS (USA) vs Ahoura BOUVEIRI (IRI)

SF 1: Joel ADAMS (USA) df. Petro SHAFRANSKYI (UKR), 6-0
SF 2: Ahoura BOUVEIRI (IRI) df. Ali ALIZADA (AZE), 1-1

80kg
GOLD: Ismayil RZAYEV (AZE) vs Alperen BERBER (TUR)

SF 1: Ismayil RZAYEV (AZE) df. Seyed Reza AZARSHAB (IRI), 9-0
SF 2: Alperen BERBER (TUR) df. Andrey ATANASOV (BUL), 9-0

110kg
GOLD: Cemal BAKIR (TUR) vs Laszlo DARABOS (HUN)

SF 1: Cemal BAKIR (TUR) df. Mazaim MARDANOV (AZE), 9-0
SF 2: Laszlo DARABOS (HUN) df. Dmytro STRYZHEKOZIN (UKR), 9-0

On his path to Paris, Burroughs makes a stop in Taraz

Thursday, November 2, 2023 - 19:15 By Vinay Siwach

TARAZ, Kazakhstan (November 2) -- The sports hall at the 'Athletic' Hotel in Taraz is full of boxing world champions and medalists. The Kazakhstan boxers are preparing for an upcoming domestic tournament.

A few meters away from the boxing ring are two wrestling mats, crowded with wrestlers from various countries. But as Jordan BURROUGHS (USA) begins his training, one mat is slowly vacated with wrestlers moving to the other.

It's his final training session before he steps on the mat on Friday as the six-time world champion will wrestle at the Kunayev DA tournament in the south Kazakhstan city. Back at 74kg after almost three years, Burroughs gearing up for the Paris Olympics next year.

Once Burroughs begins his drills, mobiles are out to record, a few others watch and admire, and even the boxers pause briefly and catch a glimpse. He spars with Joseph MCKENNA (USA) who is participating in the tournament at 65kg. The 30-minute session has Burroughs defend McKenna's shots, and work on finishing leg attacks and some heavy-hands. The sparring is followed by a long session of skipping ropes.

As the 35-year-old cools down, there are a few requests for photographs from young kids and other wrestlers. He obliges.

Jordan BURROUGHS (USA)

The DA Kunayev tournament in Taraz will be Burroughs' first international appearance since the 2022 World Cup in Iowa. While the United States won the gold there, Burroughs personally suffered a big loss. He lost, for the first time in his career, to an Iranian wrestler Ali SAVADKOUHI (IRI).

He tried making the U.S. team for the World Championships this year at 79kg but lost the trials to Chance MATSTELLER (USA). So what is Burroughs doing in Taraz at the end of the 2023 season?

"There is no international tournament in 2023 after this one," Brandon SLAY (USA), the coach with Burroughs in Taraz, said. "The Pan-Am Games or this. Burroughs coming down to 74kg meant we need to do this gradually but wrestling at Pan-Am Games would mean to make 74kg at scratch."

A two-kilogram allowance in Taraz helps Burroughs as he slowly shifts back to 74kg, an Olympic weight class in which he won gold in the 2012 London Games and now looking to repeat in Paris.

But the road to Paris is filled with challenges. Domestically, Burroughs will have to win the Olympic trial in April, going through four-time world champion Kyle DAKE (USA) who qualified the weight for the U.S. in Belgrade by winning silver. But to reach Dake, Burroughs will have to beat some of the best wrestlers in the U.S. including Jason NOLF (USA), Mitchell MESENBRINK (USA), Keegan O'TOOLE (USA), the top four U.S. wrestlers from this month's Bill Farrell International, the top five wrestlers from the National Championships in December, the 2024 NCAA champion and the 2024 Pan-American Championships champion. Marsteller is also qualified for the Olympic trial and can compete if he decides to drop to 74kg in April.

Perhaps that's what made Burroughs take the trip to Kazakhstan. This will be his first invitational tournament in six years.

"Kazakhstan has been amazing," Slay said. "We participated here last year for the first time and this was in our minds this year as well. The organizers have been very accommodating. Despite the long travel, it's reasonable to stay and wrestle here. We get to wrestle international wrestlers so that is what we were looking for."

Burroughs is up against the U20 Asian champion from Kazakhstan Yerkhan BEXULTANOV (KAZ) and if he manages to reach the final in the 20-man bracket on Saturday, he is likely to get another Kazakhstan wrestler.

"He is the only American in the bracket so we are not thinking too much," Slay said. "I am pretty satisfied with the brackets here."

Back in the sports hall, Burroughs rests himself for a brief period before calling it a day. No signs of aggressive reduction of weight. He will perhaps step on the weighing scale more than once before he actually does on Friday morning for the weigh-ins.

That is when Burroughs' battle for the Paris Olympics at 74kg begins.

Four continental champs enter U17 World finals

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On his path to Paris, Burroughs makes a stop in Taraz