Geraei Dominates Ryu in Greco 67kg Final After Both Qualify for Tokyo

Friday, April 9, 2021 - 16:42 By Ken Marantz

ALMATY, Kazakhstan (April 9) --- Mohammadreza GERAEI (IRI), having already assured he will join his older brother at the Tokyo Olympics, made a statement that gives an indication of how he might do when he gets there.

Geraei put on an impressive performance in dismantling veteran Hansu RYU (KOR) in the Greco-Roman 67kg final at the Asian Olympic qualifying tournament on Friday night, winning by 9-0 technical fall.

As both wrestlers had qualified for Tokyo with victories in the semifinals in the afternoon session, pride was on the line and Geraei looked sharp in ending the match at the spectator-less Baluan Sholak Palace of Culture and Sports in 3:45.

"It's a good day," Geraei said. "I won all of my bouts without giving a point. So I am proud. I come from a wrestling family and my brother always supports me and pushes me."

Geraei, the 2019 Asian champion, took a commanding lead from the first par terre position, reverse lifting the 33-year-old Ryu and slamming him to the mat for a 5-0 lead. In the second period, he countered a back drop by the former world champion that again sent him to his back for 4 points and the victory.

Geraei won all four of his matches by fall or technical fall in a weight class that, because it had no Olympic qualifiers from the 2019 World Championships, was particularly deep and included the world silver medalist at 72kg.

"My body was prepared for the tournament and I was able to do exactly what I had planned," said the 24-year-old Geraei. "In Almaty I achieved the next level with my performance."

Geraei's older brother Mohammadali GERAEI (IRI) had already qualified for the Tokyo Olympics at 77kg by placing third at the Nursultan worlds.

"It's a honor to go to Olympics with my brother," the younger Geraei said. "I hope he can help me reach my goal of winning the Olympic gold medal. Having him there is great as a support system and partner and teacher."

For Ryu, the loss was a disappointment, but hardly dissaudes him from his goal of capturing an elusive Olympic medal.

"I am not satisfied with myself," he said. "The Olympics is an important tournament and this was just the qualification so at the Olympics, I will do my best. During training, I always remind myself that it is for the Tokyo Olympics so I'm planning to train sincerely.

"Now I have medals at Worlds, Asian, Asian Games, but I missed an Olympics one," said Ryu, who has a combined five gold medals from Asian Games and Asian Championships, including in 2020. "I'll do my best to get an Olympic medal."

As for how long he will continue, Ryu says the 2022 Asian Games in Hanghou, China, are in the cards. "I'll do wrestling until next year's Asian Games," he said. What about Paris 2024? "No I don't have an idea to participate at Paris Olympics. I'll retire. Too old."

Kyrgyzstan, which sent three wrestlers into the finals, came with two champions in Zholaman SHARSHENBEKOV (KGZ) at 60kg and Akzhol MAKHMUDOV (KGZ) at 77kg.

Sharshenbekov, last year's Asian silver medalist, held on for a 4-3 victory over 2018 world bronze medalist Sailike WALIHAN (CHN). He took a 4-0 lead into the second period, then held on after Walihan scored a takedown and gained the par terre position.

Likewise, Makhmudov built up a 7-0 lead in the first period against Shohei YABIKU (JPN), then kept his composure as the Japanese chipped away at it with three points but nothing more.

In a clash of the most recent Asian gold medalists at 97kg, reigning champion Mohammadhadi SARAVI (IRI) handily defeated his predecessor Uzur DZHUZUPBEKOV (KGZ), finishing off a 10-0 technical fall early in the second period.

Saravi completed two gut wrenches in the par terre position to take a 5-0 lead in the first period. Just 15 seconds in the second, he countered an attack and slammed Dzhuzupbekov to his back as they went off the mat for a 4-point move. An unsuccessful challenge added the 10th point.

The other two finals went uncontested due to defaults. Nursultan TURSYNOV (KAZ) gained the 87kg title over Fei PENG (CHN), who appeared to have injured his near in his semifinal win, while Muminjon ABDULLAEV (UZB) accepted the 130kg gold without a fight from Minseok KIM (KOR).

Anyone with the notion that those in the bronze-medal matches would be less than motivated after missing out on Olympic spots need only to have watched the performance of Yanan CHEN (CHN) at 97kg.

On the verge of a technical fall loss to Jahongir TURDIEV (UZB), the unheralded Chen never gave up in the face of a 9-2 deficit and used a duck under to a powerful half-nelson that sent the Uzbek to his back. That's where the match ended, with Chen recording a fall in 4:19.

Greco-Roman Results

60kg
GOLD - Zholaman SHARSHENBEKOV (KGZ) df. Sailike WALIHAN (CHN), 4-3
BRONZE - Firuz MIRZORAJABOV (TJK) df. Mohammad ALAJMI (KUW) 4-2
BRONZE -Hanjae CHUNG (KOR) df. Gyandender GYANDENDER (IND), 4-3

67kg
GOLD - Mohammadreza GERAEI (IRI) df. Hansu RYU (KOR) by TF, 9-0, 3:45
BRONZE - Aram VARDANYAN (UZB) df. Azatjan ACHILOV (TKM) by TF, 11-2, 4:05
BRONZE - Ashu ASHU (IND) df. Sheroz OCHILOV (TJK), 8-1

77kg
GOLD - Akzhol MAKHMUDOV (KGZ) df. Shohei YABIKU (JPN), 7-3
BRONZE - Singh GURPREET (IND) df. Rabie KHALIL (PLE) by Default
BRONZE - Hujun ZHANG (CHN) df. Habibjon Zuhurov (TJK) by Fall, 2:07 (4-5)

87kg
GOLD - Nursultan TURSYNOV (KAZ) df. Fei PENG (CHN) by Default
BRONZE - Masato SUMI (JPN) df. Kumar SUNIL (IND) by TF, 10-1, 5:21
BRONZE - Jinhyeok KIM (KOR) df. Hossein NOURI (IRI) by Default

97kg
GOLD - Mohammadhadi SARAVI (IRI) df. Uzur DZHUZUPBEKOV (KGZ) by TF, 10-0, 3:15
BRONZE - Yanan CHEN (CHN) df. Jahongir TURDIEV (UZB) by Fall, 4:19 (4-9)
BRONZE - Seyeol LEE (KOR) df. Ravi RAVI (IND), 3-1

130kg
GOLD - Muminjon ABDULLAEV (UZB) df. Minseok KIM (KOR) by Default
BRONZE - Lingzhe MENG (CHN) df. Naveen NAVEEN (IND), 5-1

#WrestleIstanbul

Kolitsopoulos wins Greece's first-ever U17 Worlds gold

Wednesday, August 2, 2023 - 20:01 By Vinay Siwach

ISTANBUL (August 2) -- Over the years, close to 200 wrestlers from Greece had vied for a U17 World Championships gold medal, but none managed to break through. That changed when Arionas KOLITSOPOULOS (GRE) stepped up. He became the first wrestler from Greece to win a gold medal in the U17 world event in any style, finally breaking the barrier.

While six wrestlers from Greece had secured seven world titles in different age groups and styles, none had achieved it at the U17 level. Kolitsopoulos also put an end to a 24-year drought for a Greco-Roman world gold medal, a feat accomplished by Theofanis ANAGNOSTOU (GRE) at the U20 World Championships in 1999.

No one would have bet on the 17-year-old Kolitsopoulus achieving this historic feat just two months ago. At the U17 European Championships in Triana, Albania, he suffered an opening-round defeat at the hands of Salih YAZICI (TUR) and finished 18th in the tournament.

"At the European Championships, I lost," Kolitsopoulos said. "I was not ready. I got angry."

Fortunately, he channeled that anger in the right way and rallied to beat some of the world's best wrestlers, including U17 Asian champion Ahmadreza MOHAMADIAN (IRI) in the 71kg final, winning the gold medal on the third day of the U17 World Championships.

As Greco-Roman concluded in Istanbul on Wednesday, Iran managed to defend its team title with 113 points, with Azerbaijan finishing a close second with 108 points. Georgia secured the third spot with 96 points, India came in fourth with 88 points, and Armenia claimed the fifth position with 77 points.

Kolitsopoulos' journey began on Tuesday as he secured wins over Cristian RISCA (MDA) in the opening round, Seongmin JANG (KOR) in the pre-quarterfinals, Dias SEITKALIYEV (KAZ) in the quarterfinals, and U17 European champion Abdurakhman ABDULKADYROV (AIN) in the semifinals.

The semifinal win over Abdulkadyrov was just a small hurdle on his path to becoming a champion. On Wednesday, he faced a formidable force in Mohamadian, who even had a 5-3 lead at one point in the final.

During the first period, Mohamadian was put in par terre and Kolitsopoulos managed to get a turn for a 3-0 lead. However, Mohamadian scored a reversal and executed a throw for four points and led 5-3 at the break.

"My plan was to be the aggressor from the start but it was only in the second par terre that I managed to win," he said.

Mohamadian was handed a second passivity in the second period, a rarity in Greco-Roman to see the same wrestler being called passive consecutively. That narrowed Mohamadian's lead to 5-4. Kolitsopoulos executed another turn, taking a 6-5 lead with 37 seconds left. Mohamadian attempted to find an opening but failed, resulting in a historic win for the Greek wrestler.

"I have dreamed it like thousand times," he said. "I am feeling great and I hope kids out there in Greece start training more to become like me or better."

Kolitsopoulos, an ardent follower of Olympic and world champion Mohammareza GERARI (IRI), draws inspiration from his father and coach, Alexios, a former Greco-Roman wrestler who competed at the 2004 Athens Olympics. Both of Arionas' parents cheered him on from the stands in Istanbul.

Though the senior level is still a while away for Kolitsopoulos, he has already set his sights on surpassing his father's achievements.

"The most important thing is the results at the senior level," he said. "So step by step. Maybe next year I will be ready for seniors. I am not ready now because it's different power between senior and U17.

"I made history because my father was a talent. So I am talented but why not be better than him."

Saba PURTSELADZE (GEO) won the 92kg gold after beating Saipula GADZHIMAGOMEDOV (AIN) 7-7 in the final. (Photo: UWW / Kadir Caliskan)

In another victory marked by a stunning comeback, Saba PURTSELADZE (GEO) beat Saipula GADZHIMAGOMEDOV (AIN), 7-7, to claim the gold medal at 92kg.

The two had clashed in the U17 European Championships final as well and Purtseladze won that bout 4-3 after leading 4-0 at the break.

But in Istanbul, Purtseladze was put in par terre in the first period and Gadzhimagomedov scored exposure using a front headlock to lead 3-0. While for the second exposure, Purtseladze blocked him by pulling his singlet for which he was docked two points. Georgia challenged the call but lost, adding one more point to Gadzhimagomedov's score.

The bout resumed in pat terre but Gadzhimagomedov failed to score any more points and the two wrestlers went into the break with the AIN wrestler leading 6-0.

Purtseladze began the second period with an arm-throw and was awarded two points for the correct throw. Gadzhimagomedov scored a reversal in the same sequence to lead 7-2.

Gadzhimagomedov was called passive 33 seconds later and was put in forced par terre. Purtseladze failed to get any of his moves in par terre and left Gadzhimagomedov 53 seconds to defend the 7-3 score.

But with 36 seconds left on the clock, Purtseladze produced an underhook to throw Gadzhimagomedov back-first on the mat and score four vital points which gave him a 7-7 criteria lead.

Gadzhimagomedov had little energy left in him to score any points to regain his lead and suffered a heartbreaking loss to Purtseladze for the second time in two months.

Ilia KANDALIN (AIN) added a U17 Worlds title to his U17 European gold. (Photo: UWW / Kadir Caliskan)

Individual Neutral Athletes did capture one gold and U17 European champion Ilia KANDALIN (AIN) did it in some style.

Wrestling Artur BROYAN (ARM) in the final at 51kg, Kandalin was effortless in the two minutes and 38 seconds he spend on the mat. He put the first points on the scoreboard by getting a stepout using a strong underhook. Broyan was called passive soon and Kandalin used two gut-wrenches to extend his lead to 6-0. Just before the 30-second period, Kandalin scored another stepout to lead 7-0.

It took him 38 seconds more to finish the bout 9-0 and add a world title to the European gold he won in Triana. With his win, Kandalin remains unbeaten internationally in three tournaments. He also has U15 European gold medal to his name.

In the quarterfinals, he defeated Koba KARUMIDZE (GEO) 5-1, a better margin than the 4-3 win he scored over Karumidze in the opening round in Triana.

Roman KARIMOV (AZE) attempts a gut-wrench against Saba SURMANIDZE (GEO) in the 60kg final. (Photo: UWW / Kadir Caliskan)

At 60kg, Roman KARIMOV (AZE) hung on to a one-point lead and beat Saba SURMANIDZE (GEO) 4-3 to win the gold medal.

Surmanidze was called passive in the first period but he defended all attempts from Karimov to score any points. He tried an arm-drag but an alert Karimov fleed. Surmanidze tried to use that momentum for a body throw but Karimov landed on top of Surmanidze, earning himself two points before the break.

Karimov was put in par terre in the second period and Surmanidze tried a reverse left before switching to a chest-wrap. He managed to expose Karimov who got out of the hold and scored a reversal. However, the score read 4-1 as Surmanidze's points were not awarded initially. Georgia challenged and won with the score 4-3 in Karimov's favor and 54 seconds left on the clock.

Despite U17 Euro bronze medalist Surmanidze's best efforts to score a point, Karimov held his lead and won the gold medal.

Rustem ABATSIEV (AIN), blue, was declared a joint-champion at 45kg. (Photo: UWW / Kadir Caliskan)

Two golds at 45kg
In a rare instance, two wrestlers -- Turan DASHDAMIROV (AZE) and Rustem ABATSIEV (AIN) -- were declared winners at 45kg after their gold medal bout at the U17 World Championships in Istanbul, Turkiye.

The first final of the night saw Dashdamirov and Abatsiev wrestling with the former getting the first advantage when Abatsiev was called passive. He lifted the AIN wrestler and executed the throw which got him a point as Abatasiev landed out of bounds. Abatsiev was cautioned for using his leg to stop Dashdamirov's attack.

With a 4-0 lead, Dashdamirov was put in par terre in the second period. Abatsiev scored a turn to cut the lead to 4-3 with a minute left on the clock.

At 3:42, the referee warned Dashdamirov for locking fingers and a caution-and-one was given against Dashdamirov with 6.2 seconds left which should have given Abatsiev the criteria advantage. But the scoreboard wrongfully showed Dashdamirov as the bout leader, and after the 6.2 seconds expired, the Azerbaijan wrestler's hand was raised, declaring him the winner of the final.

According to United World Wrestling’s rules, once a winner of a bout is declared, the result cannot be changed. The technical committee of the U17 World Championships held a review and arrived at the decision to award both wrestlers the 45kg title.

Defending champion Sowaka UCHIDA (JPN) defeated NEHA (IND) 8-4 at 57kg. (Photo: UWW / Ulug Bugra Han)

Japan gets 4 in WW finals

Japan would be a happy team after day one of women's wrestling as it managed to get four out of five wrestlers in the final. Mona EZAKA (JPN), Rinka OGAWA (JPN), Sowaka UCHIDA (JPN) and Chisato YOSHIDA (JPN) will wrestle for gold on Thursday.

Ezaka, Uchida and Yoshida are returning finalists with only Uchida as the defending champion. She continued from where she left last year and began with two 10-0 wins over Nikola PIECHOCKA (POL) and Kai Yi LI (TPE).

Next up was U17 Asian champion NEHA (IND) and after a few uncomfortable moments in the bout, Uchida was quick to win 8-4. A 10-0 semifinal win against Yeo Jin MIN (KOR) confirmed her place in the final in which she will face Eylem ENGIN (TUR).

Ezaka, the silver medalist from Rome, posted three wins via fall including one over PARVEEN (IND) to reach the final at 43kg. She will now face Morgan TURNER (USA) who defeated Nilufar NURMUKHAMMADOVA (UZB), 4-2, in the other semifinal.

Yoshida, who lost to Harshita MOR (IND) in the final last year, will try to win the gold medal against Duygu GEN (TUR) at 65kg. Both wrestlers defeated AIN wrestlers in the semifinals with Yoshida beating Margarita SALNAZARIAN (AIN) 5-0 while Gen won 10-1 against Maryia MAKARCHANKA (AIN).

Ogawa will be looking for the first U17 world gold as she takes on U17 European champion Sviatlana KATENKA (AIN) in the 49kg final. The two wrestlers were clearly more dominant than the rest of the field at 49kg. Ogawa won the semifinal via fall against Tana TIULIUSH (AIN) while Katena defeated Heather CRULL (USA) 10-1.

In the other final with no Japan wrestler, returning bronze medalist Lotta ENGLICH (GER) will wrestle Piper FOWLER (USA) for the gold at 73kg. Englich defeated Asaloy AMANGELDIEVA (UZB), 2-1, in the semifinal while Fowler was a little more aggressive to win 10-2 against Aliaksandra KAZLOVA (AIN) 10-2.

RESULTS

Greco-Roman

45kg
GOLD: Turan DASHDAMIROV (AZE) df. RUSTEM ABATSIEV (AIN), 4-4

BRONZE: Yurik MKHITARYAN (ARM) df. Nika TSETSKHLADZE (GEO), 9-0
BRONZE: Alireza AMIRIGHASRODDASHTI (IRI) df. Kadyrbek ALMANBETOV (KGZ), 5-1

51kg
GOLD: Ilia KANDALIN (AIN) df. Artur BROYAN (ARM), 9-0

BRONZE: Koba KARUMIDZE (GEO) df. Dostonbek ORIPOV (UZB), 3-1
BRONZE: Manu YADAV (IND) df. Husniddin ULUGBEKOV (TKM), 9-0

60kg
GOLD: Roman KARIMOV (AZE) df. Saba SURMANIDZE (GEO), 4-3

BRONZE: Kiryl VALEUSKI (AIN) df. Yerdaulet LASSIM (KAZ), 12-8
BRONZE: Mingiian GORIAEV (AIN) df. VARUN (IND), 15-6

71kg
GOLD: Arionas KOLITSOPOULOS (GRE) df. Ahmadreza MOHAMADIAN (IRI), 6-5

BRONZE: Alkan AKAR (TUR) df. Luka LOMADZE (GEO), 5-1
BRONZE: Abdurakhman ABDULKADYROV (AIN) df. Dias SEITKALIYEV (KAZ), 10-0

92kg
GOLD: Saba PURTSELADZE (GEO) df. Saipula GADZHIMAGOMEDOV (AIN), 7-7

BRONZE: Mikayil ISMAYILOV (AZE) df. Aliakbar ASGHAR (IRI), 3-1
BRONZE: Gabriel STAN (ROU) df. Maxim UKRAINTSEV (KAZ), 9-0

Women's Wrestling Semifinals

43kg
GOLD: Mona EZAKA (JPN) vs. Morgan TURNER (USA)

SF 1: Mona EZAKA (JPN) df. Maria GKIKA (GRE), via fall (8-0)
SF 2: Morgan TURNER (USA) df. Nilufar NURMUKHAMMADOVA (UZB), 4-2

49kg
GOLD: Sviatlana KATENKA (AIN) vs. Rinka OGAWA (JPN)

SF 1: Sviatlana KATENKA (AIN) df. Heather CRULL (USA), 10-1
SF 2: Rinka OGAWA (JPN) df. Tana TIULIUSH (AIN), via fall (6-0)

57kg
GOLD: Sowaka UCHIDA (JPN) vs. Eylem ENGIN (TUR)

SF 1: Sowaka UCHIDA (JPN) df. YeoJin MIN (KOR), 10-0
SF 2: Eylem ENGIN (TUR) df. Aziza KELDIBEKOVA (KGZ), 4-2

65kg
GOLD: Duygu GEN (TUR) vs. Chisato YOSHIDA (JPN)

SF 1: Duygu GEN (TUR) df. Maryia MAKARCHANKA (AIN), 10-1
SF 2: Chisato YOSHIDA (JPN) df. Margarita SALNAZARIAN (AIN), 5-0

73kg
GOLD: Lotta ENGLICH (GER) vs. Piper FOWLER (USA)

SF 1: Lotta ENGLICH (GER) df. Asaloy AMANGELDIEVA (UZB), 2-1
SF 2: Piper FOWLER (USA) df. Aliaksandra KAZLOVA (AIN), 10-2

Geraei Dominates Ryu in Greco 67kg Final After Both Qualify for Tokyo

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Kolitsopoulos wins Greece's first-ever U17 Worlds gold