#WrestleBudapest

Georgia Claim #WrestleBudapest GR Title Despite Two Kyrgyzstan Gold

By Vinay Siwach

BUDAPEST, Hungary (July 25) --- Just like the freestyle and women's wrestling in Budapest, a new nation claimed the Greco-Roman team title for the first time. Georgia, which claimed two bronze medals on the final day of the cadet World Championships, won their first-ever team title in the history of the tournament.

The country did not have any finalists Sunday but it finished with two gold, a silver and three bronze medals to register with 141 points, the most among all the participants.

India had claimed their first-ever freestyle team title on Wednesday while USA won the women's team title on Friday, the first for them as well in the history of the tournament.

Ukraine finished in second position in Greco-Roman with two gold, two silver and a bronze medal, giving them 127 points. Defending champions Russia were third with 124 points that accumulated via two gold, two silver and a bronze medal.

Nuristan SUIORKULOV (KGZ)Nuristan SUIORKULOV (KGZ) won the gold at 51kg in Budapest. (Photo: UWW / Martin Gabor)

Though they finished fourth in the team title race, Kyrgyzstan won two gold medals Sunday as Nuristan SUIORKULOV (KGZ) and Razzak BEISHEKEEV (KGZ) won their weight classes.

Suiorkulov denied Yurii TOVT (UKR) the gold medal at 51kg as he won 3-1. This is the first time in five years that a Kyrgyzstan wrestler won the cadet Worlds. Akzhol MAKHMUDOV (KGZ) had achieved this feat in 2016, becoming the second only for the country.

"I am so glad to become the world champion," Suiorkulov said. "I wasn't worried during they day. I thought I was going to win the match."

Tovt was warned for passivity in the first period which gave Suiorkulov the lead and he scored two more points from the par-terre position to lead 3-0 at the break. Suiorkulov, who was also at the 2019 Worlds, was also penalized for being passive but he defended the par-terre position and the lead to claim the gold medal 3-1.

"Since my World Championship in 2019, I was preparing well," he said. "We had some tough days. During the COVID, I kept training at home."

Asked how he took up the sport of wrestling, he said that his friends made him do wrestling but he has emerged to be the most successful one. "My friends made me start my wrestling training as we were going to the gym together," he said. "Thanks you, my friends! None of them achieve such results in wrestling though."

Razzak BEISHEKEEV (KGZ)Razzak BEISHEKEEV (KGZ) celebrates after winning the 60kg world title in Budapest. (Photo: UWW / Martin Gabor)

At 60kg, Beishekeev overcame Seyyedmostafa REZAEI DARYAKENARI (IRI) 4-1 in the final with ease. While it was the Iranian who led at the break 1-0 but Beishekeev scored four points in the second period for the win.

Rezaei Daryakenari was awarded the point for Beishekeev's passivity but failed to capitalize from the position. In the second period, the Iranian was called passive giving Beishekeev a 1-1 criteria lead. In the par terre position, Rezaei Daryakenari was called for fleeing and cautioned, added two more points to Beishekeev's score.

Iran challenged the call but the judges upheld the referee's decision. The added point for lost challenge made the score 4-1 for Beishekeev's score which remained till the clock expired. 

Another Iran wrestler was denied the gold medal as Alexandru SOLOVEI (MDA) defeated Alireza ABDEVALI (IRI) 2-1 at the 71kg final. Solovei was leading on criteria 1-1 but was struggling to match the pace of Abdevali in the final few seconds.

Abdevali tried to score via stepout in the final three seconds but was not awarded by the referee. Iran coaches challenged the call, claiming there was a clear stepout but the judge withheld the referee's call after the replay, giving the Moldovan wrestler the win.

Alexandru SOLOVEI (MDA)Alexandru SOLOVEI (MDA) is the world champion at 71kg. (Photo: UWW / Martin Gabor)

"Last time I lost to an Iran wrestler, but this time I was confident," Solovei said referring to his loss to Hojat REZAEI (IRI) at the 2019 cadet Worlds. "It's important to wrestle till the last second. Today I got the revenge. I am very happy to get the medal. I hope next year I'll get only the medals like this one."

Solovei has been training in wrestling for the last 10 years and aims to become the Olympic champion one day. "My father was a wrestler as well. He brought me to the sport when I was seven years old. Now I am training in the Olympic village and my biggest dream is to become an Olympic champion. Every day I am thinking only about that."

At 45kg, Ukraine added another gold after the one Saturday with cadet European silver medalist Nikita DEMENTIEV (UKR) denying Ozodbek KHALIMBOEV (UZB) at the 45kg weight. He snatched a close 2-1 win after scored a step out in the second period.

He was awarded passivity and led 1-0 but he failed to take advantage of the par terre position. In the seconds period, he scored a stepout with a minute and 18 seconds remaining to extend the lead to 2-0. Khalimboev was awarded point for Dementiev passivity with 34 seconds remaining. It was his chance to reverse the match but he failed to score any points on the par terre position.

Nikita DEMENTIEV (UKR)Nikita DEMENTIEV (UKR) celebrates after winning the 45kg gold medal. (Photo: UWW / Martin Gabor)

"I have been waiting for that belt and for this medal for so long." Dementiev said. "After the unsuccessful European Championships where I got the silver medal, I really wanted to become a champion."

Dementiev won the gold medal for Ukraine and said that while preparing for the final, he was trying to remain positive.

"I was thinking about how to make my parents and my coaches happy," he said. "I wanted to prove myself that I can win. My final match was a bit tough, but we made it. When I was in school, there were wrestling classes and I just decided to give it a try. Little be little I started training and now it's been 6 years."

It could have been two for them and the team title but 2021 cadet European champion Vladyslav LUB (UKR) suffered a shock defeat to cadet Euros bronze medalist Abubakar KHASLAKHANAU (BLR).

Abubakar KHASLAKHANAU (BLR)Abubakar KHASLAKHANAU (BLR) avenged his cadet European loss to Vladyslav LUB (UKR) at the cadet Worlds on Sunday. (Photo: UWW / Martin Gabor)

Lub's strategy for the 92kg final backfired when he was awarded the passivity in the first period. He thought he would be able to score from the par terre position but Khaslakhanau's defense proved to be too much.

On the other hand, the Belarusian scored a throw for two points from the par terre in the second period to avenge his loss from the cadet European tournament just a couple of months back.

"We have been working so hard to get this medal," Khaslakhanau, who began wrestling when he was in fifth grade, said. "But it's definitely worth it. I can't even describe my emotions, but believe me it's worth it."

In his preparation for the final, the Belarussian took some motivation from the ongoing Olympics in Tokyo to keep his mind off the match.

"I tried not to think about the match," he said. "We we walking and laughing together with the coach, we were watching the Olympics on TV. Then I just came here, and did what I was supposed to do."

Next week, he will cheering for the Belarus wrestling team as wrestling at Tokyo Olympics, which are already underway, begins from August 1. 

The cadet World Championships were the first Worlds to be held after 623 days, owing to the global health pandemic. Incidentally, the last World Championships – U23 – were also held in Budapest.

RESULTS GR Medal Bouts

45kg
GOLD: Nikita DEMENTIEV (UKR) df Ozodbek KHALIMBOEV (UZB), 2-1

BRONZE: Nurbolot BERDIKULOV (KGZ) df Ali AHMADI VAFA (IRI), 8-0
BRONZE: Anri KHOZREVANIDZE (GEO) df Amare FETENE (ISR), 5-0

51kg
GOLD: Nuristan SUIORKULOV (KGZ) df Yurii TOVT (UKR), 3-1

BRONZE: Rahman KARIMOV (AZE) df Hayk LYUDVIGYAN (ARM), 7-1
BRONZE: Malik GIGIEV (RUS) df Beso MAKHARADZE (GEO), 9-1

60kg
GOLD: Razzak BEISHEKEEV (KGZ) df Seyyedmostafa REZAEI DARYAKENARI (IRI), 4-1

BRONZE: SUMIT (IND) df Bagdat SABAZ (KAZ), 8-0
BRONZE: Rati KHOZREVANIDZE (GEO) df Azizbek YOLDOSHEV (UZB), via fall

71kg
GOLD: Alexandru SOLOVEI (MDA) df Alireza ABDEVALI (IRI), 2-1

BRONZE: Ruslan NURULLAYEV (AZE) df Tornike MIKELADZE (GEO), 3-1
BRONZE: Dimitar RACHEV (BUL) df Islam YEVLOYEV (KAZ), 9-0

92kg
GOLD: Abubakar KHASLAKHANAU (BLR) df Vladyslav LUB (UKR), 3-1

BRONZE: Timur CHERNYSHEV (RUS) df Javlon TIRKASHEV (UZB), 11-3
BRONZE: Ali JALALI ABDOLVAND (IRI) df Harutyun KIRAKOSYAN (ARM), via fall

#WrestleBudapest

WATCH LIVE: Budapest Ranking Series, Day 2 finals

By United World Wrestling Press

BUDAPEST, Hungary (July 14) -- The second day of the Ranking Series in Budapest will see women's wrestling in five weight classes alongwith freestyle wrestling in three weights. A host of stars will be on the mat.

WATCH LIVE | MATCH ORDER

Here are the finals for tonight

FS 61kg - Zelimkhan ABAKAROV (ALB) vs Ossimzhan DASTANBEK (KAZ)

FS 70kg - Ihor NYKYFORUK (UKR) vs Joseph MC KENNA (USA)

FS 79kg - Mohammad NOKHODI (IRI) vs Vladimeri GAMKRELIDZE (GEO)

WW 50kg - Ziqi FENG (CHN) vs Sarah HILDEBRANDT (USA)

WW 53kg Lucia YEPEZ (ECU) vs Bolortuya BAT OCHIR (MGL)

WW 57kg Kexin HONG (CHN) vs Anastasia NICHITA (MDA)

WW 62kg Bilyana DUDOVA (BUL) vs Aisuluu TYNYBEKOVA (KGZ)

WW 68kg Feng ZHOU (CHN) vs Blessing OBORUDUDU (NGR)

15:00: Forrest MOLINARI (USA) and Koumba LARROQUE (FRA) were in a fierce battle once again. Molinari led 4-0 but two warnings to Larroque for being passive, one to Molinari for blocking. But in the end, Molinari beats Larroque 7-1.

14:40: Olivia DI BACCO (CAN) had the chance to pin Blessing OBORUDUDU (NGR) who survived the attempt. Later, Oborududu comes back and pins Di Bacco at 68kg.

13:30: Big results at 68kg. Koumba LARROQUE (FRA) moves into the quarterfinals with a 7-0 win over Tayla FORD (NZL)Forrest MOLINARI (USA) beats Adela HANZLICKOVA (CZE) 6-0 while Blessing OBORUDUDU (NGR) wins 3-0 against Wiktoria CHOLUJ (POL).

13:15: Olivia DI BACCO (CAN) was trailing 4-0 after Yelena SHALYGINA (KAZ) hit an arm-throw but Di Bacco steps over and secures the fall at 68kg.

13:00: Aisuluu TYNYBEKOVA (KGZ) posts a 10-0 win over Yasmine SOLIMAN (HUN) to move into the quarterfinals at 62kg. So does Lais NUNES (BRA) as she beats Aleksandra WOLCZYNSKA (POL) 6-0.

12:35: Viktoria VESSO (EST) brings out a perfect headlock and throw against Kayla MIRACLE (USA) and gets the fall at 62kg. What an upset!

12:30: Zelimkhan ABAKAROV (ALB) has one of the best defense in the game. He holds off Vitali ARUJAU (USA) 2-0 with ease despite Arujau's continuous attacks.

12:00: Amirmohammad YAZDANI (IRI) takes it slow but wins 3-0 against Daniel ANTAL (HUN). Another star at 70kg, Ernazar AKMATALIEV (KGZ) beat U23 world champion Giorgi ELBAKIDZE (GEO) to advance.

11:50: Ali SAVADKOUHI (IRI) moves into the next round at 79kg. The first Iran wrestler to beat Jordan BURROUGHS (USA) will be eyeing the gold in Budapest.

11:45: Two-time World Championships silver medalist Mohammad NOKHODI (IRI) opens up with an easy win over Simon MARCHL (AUT). He will face Chandler MARSTELLER (USA) who defeated Ramazan SARI (TUR) at 79kg

11:30: Sarah Ann HILDEBRANDT (USA) avenges her World Championships loss against Otgonjargal DOLGORJAV (MGL) 10-0. Absolute domination from Hildebrandt there as she puts a series of takedowns.

11:15: Aisuluu TYNYBEKOVA (KGZ) survived a barrage of attacks from Luisa NIEMESCH (GER) in the final minute of their 62kg bout to win 2-0. In another bout at 62kg, Lais NUNES (BRA) comes on top 5-3 against Ana GODINEZ (CAN)

11:00: Women's wrestling 50kg saw Emma LUTTENAUER (FRA) win 11-0 over Vestina DANISEVICIUTE (LTU) and Ziqi FENG (CHN) beat Bianka FATH (HUN) 10-0.

10:30: Welcome to day two of the Ranking Series in Budapest. A total of eight weight classes are in action with five in women's wrestling and three in freestyle.