Greco-Roman rankings see drastic changes

Friday, March 24, 2023 - 12:04 By Vinay Siwach

CORSIER-SUR-VEVEY, Switzerland (March 24) -- Wrestlers from nine different countries highlight the Greco-Roman rankings after the two Ranking Series events that were held in February. The only country with two wrestlers at the top spot is Serbia which had four world champions at the World Championships in Belgrade last year. But with Zagreb Open and Ibrahim Moustafa events, a few of the world champions were displaced from their top ranks.

The rankings will now determine the seeds for the continental championships, which also give rankings points. With two more Ranking Series events scheduled before the World Championships, wrestlers will have more chances to get points and improve their seeds for the World Championships.

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55kg
Eldaniz AZIZLI (AZE) continues to lead the 55kg rankings with the world title he won last year. A few wrestlers have improved their ranks but no new wrestler has been able to break into the top 10 even after two events.

Azizli has 45000 points, 4000 points more than Nugzari TSURTSUMIA (GEO) who won a silver in Belgrade for 37000 points. He then finished fifth at the Zagreb Open to earn 4000 points.

Amangali BEKBOLATOV (KAZ) was sixth at the start of the year but has improved his rank to third with a gold medal in Alexandria which was worth 8000 points and took his total to 33000 points. He overtook the two world bronze medalists, Yu SHIOTANI (JPN) and Jasurbek ORTIKBOEV (UZB), as both have 31000 points. Max NOWRY (USA) has also slipped one rank to sixth.

Poya DAD MARZ (IRI) has moved one place up to seventh with 25000 points. He was seventh at the start of the year but won the Zagreb Open for 8000 points. Rudik MKRTCHYAN (ARM) is now eighth while Fabian SCHMITT (GER) and Ekrem OZTURK (TUR) remain ninth and 10th respectively.

Zholaman SHARSHENBEKOV (KGZ) remains the leader at 60kg. (Photo: UWW / Kadir Caliskan)

60kg
While world champion Zholaman SHARSHENBEKOV (KGZ) leads the rankings with 45000 points and silver medalist Edmond NAZARYAN (BUL) remains second with 37000 points, the 60kg rankings have seen a lot of changes in the lower half.

Krisztian KECSKEMETI (HUN) has moved from fifth to third with 34000 points as he finished fifth at the Zagreb Open which was worth 9000 points. That has pushed Aidos SULTANGALI (KAZ) and Kenichiro FUMITA (JPN) to the fourth and fifth spots respectively.

Murad MAMMADOV (AZE) increased his points from 25000 points to 30075 points but still got pushed to the seventh spot as Liguo CAO (CHN) gathered 14000 points over two tournaments. Mammadov finished 13th in Zagreb but Cao finished ninth and then went to Alexandria and finished eighth. He won 7800 points for Zagreb and 6200 points in Alexandria to go past Mammadov. Kerem KAMAL (TUR), who was seventh at the start of the year with 18200 points, slipped to eighth despite winning gold in Alexandria and increasing his points to 29200 points due to Cao-inflicted damage.

Haithem MAHMOUD (EGY) remains ninth with 23700 points, an improvement from 15500 points he had at the start of the year. Mehdi MOHSEN NEJAD (IRI) was 11th at the start of the year with 9000 points, moved to eighth after winning the Zagreb Open for 13000 points but has slipped to 10th with 22000 points as others continue to collect more points.

Leri ABULADZE (GEO) is the new top ranked wrestler at 63kg. (Photo: UWW / Kadir Caliskan)

63kg
An ensuing battle for the top place was on at 63kg as Sebastian NAD (SRB) skipped the two events in February. That gave second-placed Leri ABULADZE (GEO) a chance to take that spot. However, it was Taleh MAMMADOV (AZE) who came in touching distance of going to the top.

After winning the Zagreb Open, Mammadov had 42000 points to be placed second, two places up from his original rank -- fourth. But he skipped the Ibrahim Moustafa event which allowed Leri ABULADZE (GEO) to jump to the top spot, thanks to his silver medal in Alexandria. Abuladze got 9400 points in Alexandria which were enough to help him overtake Nad and Mammadov. World bronze medalist Erbatu TUO (CHN) is now fourth with 31000 points while Hrachya POGHOSYAN (ARM) and Ali Reza NEJATI (IRI) are fifth and sixth respectively with 25000 points.

Luis ORTA (CUB) was seventh with 18200 points at the start of the year but has not contested in this weight class since and lost that place to Victor CIOBANU (MDA) who has 23520 points as he got 6520 points for his sixth place finish in Alexandria.

Aleksandrs JURKJANS (LAT) broke into the top 10 after Zagreb and has now improved to eighth with 21400 points. Aker SCHMID (AUT) has 19080 points to be placed ninth and Orta is 10th with 18200 points.

World champion Mate NEMES (SRB) is the top ranked wrestler at 67kg. (Photo: UWW / Kadir Caliskan)

67kg
World champion Mate NEMES (SRB) and silver medalist Mohammadreza GERAEI (IRI) continue to occupy the number one and two spots at 67kg with 45000 points and 37000 points respectively.

After Zagreb Open, the top four were the same but after the Ibrahim Moustafa event, HUSIYUETU (CHN) occupied the third spot with 36700 points. He was ninth at the start of the year but won the gold medal in Zagreb for 13000 points to jump to fifth and is now third with 8200 points more as he finished third in Alexandria.

The fourth spot is taken by Joni KHETSURIANI (GEO) who was fifth at the start of the year and slipped to seventh after Zagreb as he did not participate in it but improved as he won a silver medal in Alexandria worth 9400 points.

Hasrat JAFAROV (AZE) has slipped from third to fifth with 31000 points. He did participate in Zagreb Open but finished out of the top 16 to not receive any points. Amantur ISMAILOV (KAZ) is sixth, also with 31000 points.

Murat FIRAT (TUR) is now seventh with 25000 points while Mihai MIHUT (ROU), who was not in the top 10 at the start is now eighth with 20360 points. He was 13th in the first rankings, improved to 10th with 14880 points as he finished 10th in Zagreb and finished 10th in Alexandria to move to eighth.

Mateusz BERNATEK (POL) has slipped to ninth from seventh with 18200 points while ASHU (IND) is the new entrant in the top 10 with the 17200 points he collected over the two tournaments. He got 10200 points for his bronze in Zagreb and 7000 points for finishing fifth in Alexandria.

Ali ARSALAN (SRB) is the number one ranked wrestler at 72kg. (Photo: UWW / Kadir Caliskan)

72kg
In yet another weight class, the world champion continues to take the top spot. Ali ARSALAN (SRB) is number one at 72kg with 45000 points. The second spot is occupied by Selcuk CAN (TUR) who won the gold medal in Zagreb for 13000 points. He replaced Ulvi GANIZADE (AZE) who has 37000 points and is now third. Ibrahim GHANEM (FRA) was fifth at the start of the year but has now moved to fourth, thanks to his bronze medal in Zagreb which gave him 10200 points.

The fifth spot is taken by Andrii KULYK (UKR) who has 31000 points followed by Robert FRITSCH (HUN) who finished fifth in Zagreb for 9000 points. He moved from 17000 points to 26000 points and remains undisturbed after Alexandria.

Ibragim MAGOMADOV (KAZ) is seventh with 25000 points and Valentin PETIC (MDA) is eighth with 20100 points, an improvement from his 10th at the start of the year. The ninth spot goes to Samuel BELLSCHEIDT (GER) with 18200 points Jose VARELA (GUA) finishes the list at 10th with 15500 points.

Zoltan LEVAI (HUN) has replaced world champion Akzhol MAKHMUDOV (KGZ), blue, as the top ranked wrestler at 77kg. (Photo: UWW / Kostadin Andonov)

77kg
It took two tournaments for world silver medalist Zoltan LEVAI (HUN) to replace world champion Akzhol MAKHMUDOV (KGZ) from the top at 77kg with 46175 points. He finished 12th in Zagreb to get 5100 points and then collected 3075 points for his 13th rank in Alexandria. Makhmudov is now second with 45000 points.

Yunus BASAR (TUR) is third with 39200 points as he won a bronze medal in Alexandria. Malkhas AMOYAN (ARM) is fourth with 31000 points. Rui LIU (CHN) has jumped from the ninth spot at the start of the year to fifth with 29980 points. He won 7480 points for his 10th-place finish in Zagreb and 7000 points for his fifth-place finish in Alexandria.

Aram VARDANYAN (UZB) is sixth with 26000 points which he collected for finishing ninth in Zagreb. Viktor NEMES (SRB) sits seventh with 25000 points followed by Hyeonwoo KIM (KOR) who also has 25000 points.

Aik MNATSAKANIAN (BUL) has broken into the top 10 with 21200 points. He began the rankings at 13th with 10200 points for his bronze in Zagreb and added 11000 points more by winning the gold in Alexandria. Alexandrin GUTU (MDA) is 10th with 19600 points as he won silver in Zagreb for 11400 points and bronze in Alexandria for 8200 points.

Burhan AKBUDAK (TUR), red, is the number one wrestler at 82kg while Jalgasbay BERDIMURATOV (UZB) is number two. (Photo: UWW / Dogukan Karadag)

82kg
Gela BOLKVADZE (GEO) has jumped from sixth to third at 82kg with 33000 points, thanks to his gold in Alexandria. Barring that, the 82kg top half remains the same with world champion Burhan AKBUDAK (TUR) leading the rankings with 45000 points and silver medalist Jalgasbay BERDIMURATOV (UZB) in second spot with 37000 points.

Tamas LEVAI (HUN) is fourth with 31000 points and Yaroslav FILCHAKOV (UKR) is fifth with the same points. Rafig HUSEYNOV (AZE) is sixth with 25000 points followed by Roland SCHWARZ (GER) with 21000 points, 4000 points more than at the start of the year as he finished fifth in Alexandria.

Dias KALEN (KAZ) is eighth with 18700 points while Chengwu WANG (CHN) is ninth with 18200 points. Yuya OKAJIMA (JPN) remains 10th with 14300 points.

Turpan BISULTANOV (DEN) Turpal BISULTANOV (DEN), 22, is the top ranked wrestler at 87kg. (Photo: UWW / Bayrem ben Mrad)

87kg
Turpal BISULTANOV (DEN) overtook world champion Zurabi DATUNASHVILI (SRB) for the top spot after winning the bronze medal in Zagreb. He got 10200 points for the bronze which took his total to 47200 points, 2200 points more than Datunashvili's.

Ali CENGIZ (TUR) sits third with 40400 points, 400 points more than fourth-placed David LOSONCZI (HUN). Cengiz had slipped to fifth after Zagreb but won a silver medal in Alexandria to move to third. Losonczi was fifth in Zagreb to get 9000 points.

Naser ALIZADEH (IRI) is fifth with 36400 points while Alex KESSIDIS (SWE) is sixth with 33200 points. The former had moved to the fourth spot after Zagreb but has slipped again as he did not participate in Alexandria.

Damian VON EUW (SUI) has slipped to ninth spot with 18200 points as Nursultan TURSYNOV (KAZ) with 23520 points and A. AZISBEKOV (KGZ) with 22500 points move up to seventh and eighth spot respectively. Barthelemy TSHOSHA (COD) remains 10th with 14300 points.

Kiril MILOV (BUL) replaced world champion Artur ALEKSANYAN (ARM) at the top at 97kg. (Photo: UWW / Kadir Caliskan)

97kg
Kiril MILOV (BUL) won the gold medal in Zagreb to replace world champion Artur ALEKSANYAN (ARM) from the top spot at 97kg. With 13000 points from Zagreb, Milov moved his tally from 37000 points to 50000 points, 5000 points more than Aleksanyan.

World bronze medalists Arif NIFTULLAYEV (AZE) and Mohammadhadi SARAVI (IRI) were third and fourth respectively at the start of the year and even after Zagreb but Saravi exchanged spots by winning the gold in Alexandria for 13000 points. He now has 44000 points compared to 38800 points of Niftullayev.

Nikoloz KAKHELASHVILI (ITA) is fifth with 30800 points as he finished 11th in Zagreb for 5800 points. He is followed by Rustam ASSAKALOV (UZB) who has 26720 points, up from the 18200 points he had at the beginning of the year. He increased the points by finishing seventh in Zagreb. Giorgi MELIA (GEO) is seventh with 26000 points.

The three have overtaken Metehan BASAR (TUR) who is now eighth with 25000 points followed by a surprise entrant Tamas LEVAI (HUN) who has 19920 points. He got his first points in Zagreb, 11400 points for winning silver, and added 8520 for finishing seventh in Alexandria. Mihail KAJAIA (SRB) is 10th with 16400 points as he got 9000 points for finishing fifth in Zagreb.

Alin ALEXUC (ROU) rose to the top at 130kg. (Photo: UWW / Kostadin Andonov)

130kg
Since both Riza KAYAALP (TUR) and Amin MIRZAZADEH (IRI) have not competed since the World Championships, Alin ALEXUC CIURARIU (ROU) has overtaken them and occupied the top spot at 130kg with 46400 points. Alexuc has 1400 points more than Kayaalp and 9400 points more than Mirzazadeh. Alexuc's rise included a fifth-place finish in Zagreb for 9000 points and a silver medal in Alexandria which got him 6400 points.

Mantas KNYSTAUTAS (LTU) is fourth with 36075 points followed by Iakobi KAJAIA (GEO) with 25000 points and Muminjon ABDULLAEV (UZB) is sixth with the same points. Danila SOTNIKOV (ITA) and Dariusz VITEK (HUN) have moved to seventh and eighth place respectively.

Oskar MARVIK (NOR) is the new name in the top 10 with 19600 points while Sabah SHARIATI (AZE) is 10th with 18200 points.

#wrestlebishkek

Asian Championships Freestyle Finals Set

Friday, April 12, 2024 - 04:33 By Ken Marantz & Vinay Siwach

BISHKEK, Kyrgyzstan (April 12) -- The Asian Championships enters day two with five more Freestyle weights. World champion Amir Hossein ZARE (IRI) will lead the competition at 125kg as Iran looks to build on its three gold medals won on day one.

WATCH LIVE | LIVE MATCH ORDER | DAY 1 REPORT

14:32: Amir ZARE (IRI) is safely into the 125kg final with a 5-0 victory over Shamil SHARIPOV (BRN). Zare combined three stepouts with two activity clock points and was never in danger himself as the reigning world champion earned a chance for gold in his senior Asian Championships debut.

14:27: Two-time Olympian Aiaal LAZAREV (KGZ) enters the 125kg final after beating Odgerel BATKHISHIG (MGL) 10-0 in the semifinal. This is Lazarev's 10th Asian Championships, first being in 2009, and third final. He won gold in 2015 and was silver medalist in 2021.

14:22: At 74kg, Kota TAKAHASHI (JPN) notches perhaps the biggest win of his young career, scoring a takedown in each period to knock off Hossein ABOUZARI (IRI) 4-2 and earn a place in the final in his international senior debut. The 20-year-old Takahashi opens with a textbook double-leg takedown, but gives up a single-leg takedown to trail 2-2 on criteria. In the second period, the Japanese gets the winning takedown, and then fends off all desperate attacks by Abouzari.

14:20: Viktor RASSADIN (TJK) becomes the second wrestler from Tajikistan to enter the finals at the Asian Championships after he defeated Alp BEGENJOV (TKM) 14-4 in the 74kg semifinal. Incidentally, the first finalist -- Yusup ABDULSALAMOV (TJK) -- won at 74kg as well back in 2003.

14:10: Another heartbreak for Kyrgyzstan as Nurtilek KARYPBAEV (KGZ) goes down 5-3 against Sherzod POYONOV (UZB) in the 92kg semifinal. Karypbaev could not keep up with the pace of the bout and broke down.

14:08: Amirhossein FIROUZPOUR (IRI) gets a chance to add to his 2022 gold after bulling to a 10-0 victory over Magomed SHARIPOV (BRN) in the 92kg semifinals. Sharipov just couldn't stop the charge of Firouzpour, who had six stepouts, two of which got a caution point tacked on. Firouzpour's lone takedown of the match, off a single leg, ended it at 4:14.

13:57: Javrail SHAPIEV (UZB) scored a takedown in the first period and held on that 2-0 lead against Atai IZABEKOV (KGZ). He was cautioned for open fingers on Izabekov's face but that didn't stop Shapiev from winning 2-1 and entering the 86kg final against defending champion Azamat DALUETBEKOV (KAZ). Both wrestled in the 86kg bronze-medal bout at the World Championships which the Kazakh won. But Shapiev won the Asian Games quarterfinal in October.

13:55: Azamat DAULETBEKOV (KAZ) will get a shot at a third straight Asian gold at 86kg after putting on an arm drag clinic in an 11-0 victory over Peilong LI (CHN). Dauletbekov used the arm drag to set up five takedowns, the final one coming 27 seconds into the second period to end the match.

13:47: Taiyrbek ZHUMASHBEK UULU (KGZ) pulled off a miracle victory over Reza ATRI (IRI) in the 61kg semifinals, scoring a 4-point back trip in the final second for an 11-7 victory. Atri came back from a 5-point deficit to lead 7-6, mainly with a 4-point counter lift. A fleeing point tied the score, but Atri still led on criteria. Zhumashbek Uulu did little to build up his 5-0 lead in the first period, gaining an activity point, a penalty point for a hand to the face, a takedown while countering a throw, and then a point for an unsuccessful challenge after the Iranians thought the takedown should have been called a missed throw.

13:35: Assyl AITAKYN (KAZ) enters the 61kg final after beating Akash DAHIYA (IND) 11-0. A slow start to the semifinal but Aitakyn used a takedown and two turns in the second period to claim the victory.

The semifinals will begin at 13:30 local time

13:20: In the last quarterfinal of the morning session, Kota TAKAHASHI (JPN) blanks YASH (IND) 11-0. After a 4-0 lead in the first period, Takahashi scored a stepout in the second period and countered Yash's attack. He scored two exposures to enter the 74kg semifinal.

13:15: Local star Aiaal LAZAREV (KGZ) breaks BUHEEERDUN (CHN) in the second period and overcomes a three-point deficit and wins the 125kg quarterfinal 10-6.

13:10: Either Turkmenistan or Tajikistan will be assured of taking home a medal after Alp BEGENJOV (TJM) and Viktor RASSIDIN (TJK) advanced to a semifinal clash against each other at 74kg. Begenjov recorded a fall over Fierre AFAN (PHI), and Rassidin followed with a 9-0 victory over Kanat KERIMBEKOV (KGZ) in their respective quarterfinal matches.

13:02: Hossein ABOUZARI (IRI) stays on track to the final by crushing Yong Nam SO (PRK) 12-1 in the 74kg quarterfinals.

12:57: World champion Amir ZARE (IRI) begins his campaign with a 10-0 victory over Anirudh KUMAR (IND) in the 125kg quarterfinals. Zare took a 6-0 lead into the second period and wasted little time finishing up the technical fall.

12:55: The home crowd seems to spur on 2022 Asian U23 silver medalist Nurtilek KARYBAEV (KGZ) in the second period, when he scores three takedowns to forge a 6-1 victory over Issa AL OBAIDI (IRQ) and advances to the 92kg semifinals.

12:55: Magomed SHARIPOV (BRN) manages to keep himself from touching the mat on three points and avoids being taken down. He beats Adilet DAVLUMBAYEV (KAZ) 7-4 to advance to the semifinals at 92kg.

12:45: Javrail SHAPIEV (UZB), an Asian Games bronze medalist and fifth-place finisher at both the Olympics and World Championships, holds on for a 4-1 victory over Tatsuya SHIRAI (JPN) to advance to the 86kg semifinals. Shapiev scored a first-period takedown, and Shirai cut the gap with a stepout a minute into the second period. Shapiev clinches the win with a takedown in the final seconds off a counter from a desperate attack by the Japanese.

12:44: Amirhossein FIROUZPOUR (IRI) books his place in the 92kg semifinals with an 11-0 rout of Suhe GANG (CHN).

12:34: In one of the featured matches of the midday session, defending champion and two-time world bronze medalist Azamat DAULETBEKOV (KAZ) scores an early single-leg takedown against Hadi VAFAEIPOUR (IRI) in their 86kg quarterfinal, but the Iranian responds with a stepout. That is where the scoring ends, although Vafaeipour ended the match in deep on a single that he just couldn't finish off. The Iranians naturally challenged, but it was denied to give Dauletbekov a 3-1 win and the Iranian side its first loss of the day.

12:25: Reza ATRI (IRI) moves a step closer to his third career Asian medal and possibly second gold with a workmanlike 5-0 victory over Dzhamashed SHARIFOV (TJK) in the 61kg quarterfinals.

12:00: Kota TAKAHASHI (JPN) with a takedown in the final 10 seconds to claim a 9-9 criteria win over Syrbaz TALGAT (KAZ) at 74kg.

11:58: Hossein ABOUZARI (IRI) scores his fourth takedown with 13 seconds left to complete a 10-0 win over Zafarbek OTAKHONOV (UZB) at 74kg to become Iran's fifth wrestler out of five in the quarterfinals. Otakhonov was the silver medalist a year ago at 70kg.

11:52: Returning bronze medalist BUHEEERDUN (CHN) moves on at 125kg with a 5-2 win over Koki YAMAMOTO (JPN). Apart from the one time he got stuck in a fall position, Buheeerdun controlled the bout.

11:48: Anirudh KUMAR (IND), a returning bronze medalist at 125kg, has no trouble in posting a safe 3-0 victory over Zaman ANWAR (PAK). He will next face world champion Amir ZARE (IRI).

11:38: Another Iranian is over the first hurdle as 2022 champion Amirhossein FIROUZPOUR (IRI) cruises to an 11-0 victory over Satoshi MIURA (JPN) at 92kg.

11:36: Tatsuya SHIRAI (JPN), the world U23 silver medalist after winning the gold in 2022, scores four stepouts in muscling to a 5-0 victory over Sandeep MANN (IND) at 86kg.

11:30: Not to be for Mustafa AL OBAIDI (IRI) as Peilong LI (CHN) storms back after trailing 3-3 on criteria. Li pins Al Obaidi to win the 86kg bout.

11:28: Hadi VAFAEIPOUR (IRI), making his debut in a major tournament for Iran, easily gets past VUTHY HENG (CAM) in his opening match at 86kg, scoring a 10-0 win in 2:39. Among Vafaeipour's accolades is a victory last year on the Beach Wrestling circuit.

11:20: In a thriller at 61kg, Akash DAHIYA (IND) twice scored exposure points in the second period while Dzhamshed SHARIFOV (UZB) was trying to turn him over, the final time to clinch a 10-8 victory.

11:12: Assyl AITAKYN (KAZ), a two-time world U23 bronze medalist, starts the action on Mat B with a 7-0 victory over Ali ABURAMAILA (PLE) at 61kg.

11:10: Kaisei TANABE (JPN), whose father Chikara was a bronze medalist in 55kg at the 2004 Athens Olympics, squanders a 4-0 lead and drops his bout against Reza ATRI (IRI) 4-4.

11:04: In the opening match on Mat A, Kum Chol Ri (PRK), an Asian cadet champion in 2014, marks his return to the international scene with a quick 10-0 win over Ibrahim GUZAN (YEM) at 61kg

11:00: Another Freestyle day at the Asian Championships in Bishkek. Wrestlers in 61kg, 74kg, 86kg, 92kg and 125kg to wrestle for the five gold medals on offer.

Greco-Roman rankings see drastic changes

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Asian Championships Freestyle Finals Set