Host Serbia puts two into GR finals on opening day of Worlds

Saturday, September 10, 2022 - 20:16 By Ken Marantz

BELGRADE, Serbia (September 10) -- The opening act of the World Championships was a smash for the home team, as host Serbia saw two wrestlers advance to the finals of the four Greco-Roman weight classes that kicked off the tournament on Saturday in Belgrade.

Defending champion Zurabi DATUNASHVILI (SRB) put himself in a position for a repeat of the 87kg gold medal he won last year in Oslo, while Iran-born Ali ARSALAN (SRB) earned a shot at a first world title at 72kg.

Azerbaijan will also have two wrestlers in action on the first night of finals at Stark Arena on Sunday when Eldaniz AZIZLI (AZE) will look to regain the world 55kg title that he won in 2018, and European bronze medalist Ulvi GANIZADE (AZE) will go for gold at 72kg.

Meanwhile, Tokyo Olympic silver medalist Akzhol MAKHMUDOV (KGZ) made his first world final at 77kg, earning a clash with surprising Zoltan LEVAI (HUN), who denied Serbia a third finalist when he knocked off former world champion Viktor NEMES (SRB).

Zurabi DATUNASHVILI (SRB) won his 87kg semifinal 4-3. (Photo: UWW / Kadir Caliskan)

Datunashvili, sporting his trademark cornrow braids, had to scrape his way into the 87kg final, where he will try to prevent European champion Turpan BISULTANOV (DEN) from becoming Denmark's first-ever world champion in Greco-Roman.

"For the Serbian people, for Serbian sports, I want to win it tomorrow," Datunashvili said.

All three of Datsunashvili's matches went the distance, including a 4-3 nail-biter in the semifinals over 2021 world U23 silver medalist David LOSONCZI (HUN). His ability to stay calm under pressure earned the Tokyo Olympic bronze medalist a trip back to the finals.

Against Losonczi, Datunashvili barely managed to gain a 2-point exposure from par terre, then managed to hang on after Losonczi scored a stepout that had a one-point fleeing penalty tacked on and cut the gap to a point.

Turpan BISULTANOV (DEN), blue, defeated Ali CENGIZ (TUR) 6-0 in the semifinal. (Photo: UWW / Martin Gabor)

In the final match of the session, Bisultanov took advantage of a rare second passivity call in his favor against Ali CENGIZ (TUR), scoring a 4-point throw in the second period to secure a 6-0 victory. That made him the first Dane to make a world Greco final since 2015 when Mark MADSEN (DEN) won the fourth and last of his silver medals at 74-75kg.

"I am very looking forward to it [the final]," Bisultanov said. "I was thinking that he or Hungarian will go to the final and yeah, they were both in the semifinals and had a very close match. I don't know, we will see what happens tomorrow, I and my coaches will see what we can do and I will do my best tomorrow."

Bisultanov said the vocal group of Danish fans in the venue will take away some of the home-field advantage of his opponent.

"Of course, every time you are at home you feel more energy, you have to do something for your home, for your fans," he said. "But luckily I got my crazy Danish fans here. I hope my fans will beat the Serbian fans, and I'll beat him as well."

Eldaniz AZIZLI (AZE) celebrates after scoring a 9-0 win over Max NOWRY (USA) in the 55kg semifinal. (Photo: UWW / Martin Gabor)

At 55kg, the final will be a clash between the two bronze medalists from Oslo 2021 -- both former world champions, as well -- although Azizli will seem to have the upper hand on Nugzari TSURTSUMIA (GEO), having beaten him six months ago in the final at the European Championships.

Azizli stormed into the final with his third technical fall of the day, overwhelming Max NOWRY (USA) 9-0 in 1:44 in the first semifinal. Put on top in par terre, Azizli went right to work, ripping off a pair of gut wrenches before transitioning to a 4-point throw.

Nugzari TSURTSUMIA (GEO) will try to win his second world title on Sunday. (Photo: UWW / Kadir Caliskan)

Tsurtsumia, the 2019 world champion, advanced to the final with a 5-3 victory over Asian silver medalist Amangali BEKBOLATOV (KAZ). Tsurtsumia fell behind 3-3 on criteria when he gave up a defensive takedown early in the second period, but he immediately came back with a stepout to regain the lead.

The final will be the third meeting between Azizli and Tsurtsumia in two years. The two also met in the quarterfinals of the 2021 European Championships, with Azizli winning 10-1 en route to a bronze medal.

"I've lost to Azizli around seven or even eight times," Tsurtsumia said. "But it doesn't matter, because tomorrow I will wrestle till the very end. I'm not going to tell you now what exactly I'm gonna do, but you will see it all tomorrow. I'll take revenge."

Ali ARSALAN (SRB) pinned Ibrahim GHANEM (FRA) in the 72kg semifinal. (Photo: UWW / Kadir Caliskan)

In the 72kg semifinals, Arsalan had the play of the day when he used a slick duck-under to a half-nelson that put Ibrahim GHANEM (FRA) onto his back, where he secured a fall at 2:33.

That had come after Arsalan, a 2017 Asian bronze medalist who began competing for Serbia last year, had scored a reversal from the bottom of par terre.

"First of all, I am so glad that I made it to the final, it's really good for me," Arsalan said, "but it's not enough for me. I should recover myself and my body and my mind. Tomorrow I should be myself on the mat."

Earlier in the day, Arsalan defeated Robert FRITSCH (HUN) 7-3 to avenge a loss in the quarterfinals of the European Championships in June, where he won a bronze medal.

Ganizade made the final by edging Selcuk CAN (TUR) 4-3 in a battle of 2020 European bronze medalists. Both scored 2-point throws from par terre, but Ganizade added a stepout after his to provide the margin of difference.

Olympic silver medalist Akzhol MAKHMUDOV (KGZ), red, defeated Hyeonwoo KIM (KOR) 4-1 in the 77kg semifinal. (Photo: UWW / Martin Gabor)

At 77kg, Makhmudov and Levai made it through a grueling gauntlet of 33 entries which saw three world medalists from 2021, including the champion at 72kg, and an Olympic bronze medalist fall by the wayside.

"Tomorrow there will be revenge against Zoltan Levai," Makhmudov said. "I already lost to him once and I defeated him once as well. I want to do my best to show the Kyrgyz soul, to show what our wrestlers are capable of."

Makhmudov once again confirmed a changing of the guard in Asia when the 23-year-old knocked off veteran Hyeonwoo KIM (KOR) 4-1 in the semifinals. After a successful defense from the bottom of par terre, Makhmudov scored with a roll during his turn on top.

"I am really satisfied with today's performance," said Makhmudov, who beat Kim in the semifinals of the Asian Championships in April, where he won his second continental title.

Kim won a silver medal at the 2012 London Olympics and bronze at the 2016 Rio Olympics.

Zoltan LEVAI (HUN) celebrates after beating Viktor NEMES (SRB) 3-1 in the 72kg semifinal. (Photo: UWW / Kadir Caliskan)

Levai finished off a long and exhausting day by beating Nemes 3-1 in the other semifinal. It was his fifth match of the day, which started with a 3-3 win over 2021 world 72kg champion Malkhas AMOYAN (ARM).

It's been a good year for Levai. He came into Belgrade having won international tournaments in Rome, Warsaw and Mladenovac, Serbia, over a three-month span through August.

At least Amoyan still has a shot at a bronze medal. Among those who didn't make it to the repechage were 2021 silver medalist Sanan SULEYMANOV (AZE), 2021 bronze medalist Mohammadali GERAEI (IRI) and Tokyo Olympic bronze medalist Shohei YABIKU (JPN).

On Sunday, competition through the semifinals will be held in Greco 63kg, 67kg, 82kg and 97kg.

Day 1 Greco-Roman Results

55kg (18 entries)

Semifinals
Eldaniz AZIZLI (AZE) df. Max NOWRY (USA) by TF, 9-0, 1:44
Nugzari TSURTSUMIA (GEO) df. Amangali BEKBOLATOV (KAZ), 5-3

72kg (25 entries)

Semifinals
Ali ARSALAN (SRB) df. Ibrahim GHANEM (FRA) by fall, 2:33 (5-1)
Ulvi GANIZADE (AZE) df. Selcuk CAN (TUR), 4-3

77kg (33 entries)

Semifinals
Zoltan LEVAI (HUN) df. Viktor NEMES (SRB), 3-1
Akzhol MAKHMUDOV (KGZ) df. Hyeonwoo KIM (KOR), 4-1

87kg (30 entries)

Semifinals
Zurabi DATUNASHVILI (SRB) df. David LOSONCZI (HUN), 4-3
Turpan BISULTANOV (DEN) df. Ali CENGIZ (TUR), 6-0

#WrestleBelgrade

Russia Tops Iran for Freestyle Team Title at #WrestleBelgrade

Sunday, November 7, 2021 - 22:02 By Vinay Siwach

BELGRADE, Serbia (November 7) – As Russia and Iran battled for the team title, the 74kg final was the perfect stage to decide it. Chermen VALIEV (RUS) was chasing the gold he was denied in 2019 and Mohmmadsadegh FIROUZPOURBANDPEI (IRI) was looking for his debut world title. And they put on a show.

Valiev began with a stepout and then a takedown on edge to lead 3-0 and seemed like he would run away with the bout. But just before the break, Firouzpourbandpei got one back with a stepout.

As the Iranian upped the pace, Valiev began to tire out but only gave up a point for stepout with caution. The Russian was always on the backfoot but Firouzpourbandpei could never finish his attacks.

Valiev scored a takedown on a counter to extend the lead 5-2 with a minute and 27 seconds remaining in the bout. He then countered another attack and led 7-2. In a dramatic finish, Firouzpourbandpei made a huge four-point throw in the final two seconds but that was a little too late.

Chermen VALIEV U23 World Championships Chermen VALIEV (RUS) became the U23 world champion at 74kg. (Photo: UWW / Mohamed Yahia)

The gold medal for Russia confirmed their team title irrespective of other results. In the end, they captured it with 145 points while Iran finished second with 140. The surprise came at the third position which went to Armenia who had 114 points.

Russia had three finalists Sunday but only Valiev could win a gold medal. Iran also had two wrestlers in the final but both lost which hurt their chances to win the team title.

Arsen HARTUNYUNYAN (ARM) ended his long wait for a world title as he won the gold medal at 61kg while Mukhammed ALIIEV (UKR) gave Ukraine their first-ever freestyle U23 world champion at 86kg.

At 92kg, Osman NURMAGOMEDOV (AZE) finished at the top of the podium with a controlled win while the USA also finished with one gold as Anthony CASSIOPPI (USA) secured a first-period fall over Azamat KHOSONOV (GRE) to close out the U23 World Championships in Belgrade, Serbia.

On his way to the 74kg gold, Valiev had scored an important win over returning U23 world champion Turan BAYRAMOV (AZE) in the 1/8 finals which perhaps boosted his confidence.

“It took me a while to get here,” Valiev said. “I am very happy that I’ve made it. For the final, we’ve prepared a tactic with the coaches to wrestle till the very end, not to give up. He wasn’t trying to hit a double-leg a lot, he was just pushing.”

As he graduates to the senior level, the Ardon-native Valiev understands the challenges of the tough 74kg weight in Russia and internationally.

“In 74kg, the competition is really big both in Russia and in the world, but I am ready for it. I’ll work harder and I think I’ll make it,” he said.

Arsen HARUTYUNYAN (ARM) won the gold at 61kg. (Photo: UWW / Mohamed Yahia)

Russia had a finalist at 57kg as well but Hartunyunyan looked the more committed wrestler as he stopped Artur CHEBODAEV (RUS) 11-7 in the final.

The Oslo bronze medalist set the pace of the bout early with a takedown and then a stepout to make it 3-0. But he was on in trouble when Chebodaev scored a takedown and laced the Armenian for the lead. At the break, the Russian led 6-4.

The match changed in the second period when Harutyunyan scored a takedown and worked a leg-lace for four more points for a 10-6 lead. The two exchanged stepouts did not matter much in the end.

“I was ready to wrestle for the six minutes and finish it 10-0,” Harutyunyan said. “Bu the final turned out to be interesting.”

Harutyunyan has previously made seven trips to World Championships but this is the first time he has been able to win the title. This could well be the start of a legendary career for the Armenian.

“This is just the beginning,” he said. “I will become the senior and Olympic champion. Previously, I did not have enough experience and something always goes wrong at the senior Worlds.”

By ending the world title drought, the Armenian has got a load off his back. After the bronze in Oslo, decided to wrestle at the U23 Worlds to win and is now ready to repeat the performances.

“After Oslo, I thought that there will be another way open to me and I would finish the year in a good way,” he said. “Next year, I will wrestle as a world champion and I will have fewer worries than I had. I will correct my mistakes so that I can wrestle well at the Paris Olympics.”

Osman NURMAGOMEDOV (AZE) won the gold medal at the 92kg. (Photo: UWW / Mohamed Yahia)

Russia suffered another heartbreak as Oslo bronze medalist Osman NURMAGOMEDOV (AZE) put his '21 U23 Euro final's loss behind and upgraded to gold at the U23 Worlds. He defeated Azamat ZAKUEV (RUS), 4-2 in the final.

Nurmagomedov's semifinal against junior world champion Amirhossein FIROUZPOURBANDPEI (IRI) was a match that will be remembered for long. The Iranian wrestler was caught in a leg lace and the Azerbaijan wrestler was awarded a 10-0 win.

But Iran challenged the call saying that the final action was out-of-bounds. It was confirmed in the reviews which gave a second life to Firouzpourbandpei who mounted a comeback but still fell short 8-10.

In the final, Nurmagomedov, from the same family as Olympic champion Sharif SHARIFOV (AZE), was in much more control as he scored two takedowns to win the bout 4-2.

"I was training hard. I was mentally prepared to win," Nurmagomedov said. "In the final match the opponent was very strong. I wrestled him at the U23 European, it gave me confidence, I know his wrestling style well. It was easier, we analyzed him well with the coaches."

The Azerbaijan wrestler had defeated Zakuev 5-4 at the U23 Euros as well but in the final there, he lost 3-4 against Erhan YAYLACI (TUR) after being cautioned for a singlet pulling.

In Oslo, he reached the semifinal but lost to Magomed KURBANOV (RUS) and the Azerbaijan wrestler accepted that there are areas that he need to improve.

"Kurbanov is just a physically strong guy," he said. "I feel that I just don’t have enough strength. In a few years I’ll meet him and the match will end differently."

Hailing from Dagestan, Nurmagomedov trains in Makhachkala and Khasavurt, but has been in Baku, Azernaijan recently.

"I have two personal coaches and since 2018, I’ve been in the same team with Sarifov as well. It’s a pleasure to train with such professionals," he said.

Mukhammed ALIIEV (UKR) is Ukraine's first-ever freestyle world champion at U23 Worlds. (Photo: UWW / Mohamed Yahia)

At 86kg, Aliiev created history by winning Ukraine's first gold. In the process, he dashed Iran's hopes of winning gold through Sajjad GHOLAMI (IRI).

“I still can’t believe I am a champion,” Aliiev said. “I was so proud when the anthem was playing and the flag was raised.”

The 22-year-old trains in Kharkov, Ukraine and began training only when his father, a boxer, pushed him into the sport and not boxing.

Wrestling at the first World Championships, Aliiev began with a quick takedown which Gholami countered with his own. He took a clear lead with another one but Aliiev cut it short with a stepout.

Surprisingly, it was the Iran wrestler who was struggling to find his feet on the mat as Aliiev kept coming back. In the second period, he added a takedown and stepout before a body lock exposure gave him two more. He ended the bout 11-4.

“I was wrestling everyone here for the first time and it was challenging for me,” he said.

Anthony CASSIOPPI (USA) won the gold medal at 125kg. (Photo: UWW / Mohamed Yahia)

At 125kg, Cassioppi ended a stunning run at the U23 Worlds with a victory via fall over Azamat KHOSONOV (GRE) and a gold medal for the USA.

It all happened in the first period as Cassiopi scored a takedown and then had Khosonov in a lace. The Greek tried to score a four but fell on his back and the USA wrestler held him to the mat and secured the fall.

“I just came out here and do my best. I just wrestled to my abilities,” Cassiopi said. “I have not competed at this high level before. I expected to win and wrestle my positions. He did help me stay in my ties.”

Osman NURMAGOMEDOV (AZE), red, defeated Azamat ZAKUEV (RUS) in the final. (Photo: UWW / Mohamed Yahia)

RESULTS

61kg
GOLD: Arsen HARUTYUNYAN (ARM) df Artur CHEBODAEV (RUS), 11-7

BRONZE: Assyl AITAKYN (KAZ) df Gamzatgadzhi KHALIDOV (HUN), 3-3
BRONZE: Narankhuu NARMANDAKH (MGL) df Christopher CANNON (USA), 10-0

74kg
GOLD: Chermen VALIEV (RUS) df Mohmmadsadegh FIROUZPOURBANDPEI (IRI), 7-6

BRONZE: Temuri BERUASHVILI (GEO) df Vasile DIACON (MDA), 3-3
BRONZE: Hrayr ALIKHANYAN (ARM) df Simon MARCHL (AUT), 10-0

86kg
GOLD: Mukhammed ALIIEV (UKR) df Sajjad GHOLAMI (IRI), 11-4

BRONZE: Lars SCHAEFLE (GER) df Zagid KARIMOV (RUS), 3-0
BRONZE: Ivars SAMUSONOKS (LAT) df Emre CIFTCI (TUR), 5-2

92kg
GOLD: Osman NURMAGOMEDOV (AZE) df Azamat ZAKUEV (RUS), 4-2

BRONZE: Amirhossein FIROUZPOURBANDPEI (IRI) df Johannes MAYER (GER), 10-0
BRONZE: Erhan YAYLACI (TUR) df Rustam SHODIEV (UZB), via fall

125kg
GOLD: Anthony CASSIOPPI (USA) df Azamat KHOSONOV (GRE), via fall

BRONZE: Seyedmehdi HASHEMIJOUYBARI (IRI) df Mohit GREWAL (IND), 6-3
BRONZE: Saipudin MAGOMEDOV (RUS) df Martin SIMONYAN (ARM), 10-0

Host Serbia puts two into GR finals on opening day of Worlds

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Russia Tops Iran for Freestyle Team Title at #WrestleBelgrade