#BudaWrestle2018

Hungarians Korpasi, Bacsi Electrify Crowd with Semifinal Victories

By Andrew Hipps

BUDAPEST, Hungary (October 25) -- Balint KORPASI and Peter BACSI electrified the crowd in Budapest and gave Hungary two finalists on the opening day of the Greco-Roman competition at the World Championships. 

Korpasi, a 2016 world champion, punched his ticket to the gold-medal match with a 3-1 win over Aik MNATSAKANIAN (BUL) in the semifinals at 72kg. The 31-year-old Hungarian scored with a gut wrench in the first period, which proved to the difference in the match. He will face two-time world champion Frank STAEBLER (GER) in the gold-medal match at 72kg.

Staebler broke open a close semifinal match against 2015 world champion Rasul CHUNAYEV (AZE) late in the match with a takedown and two throws to claim a 9-1 technical fall.

Bacsi found himself in an early 4-0 hole after giving up a takedown and turn to Atabek AZISBEKOV (KGZ) in the semifinals at 82kg. But Bacsi chipped away and cut the deficit to 4-2 in the second period before getting on top and scoring with a gut wrench and four-point throw to go up by four points. He would close out a technical fall victory a short time later with a gut wrench. His finals opponent will be Emrah KUS (TUR), who came back to defeat Saeid ABDVALI (IRI) 6-4 in the semifinals. 

Abdvali raced out to a 4-0 lead on the strength of a body lock twenty seconds into the match. But Kus would come back in the second period, using a four-point throw to take the lead. He would add a point off a failed challenge to win by two.  

Nineteen-year-old Zholaman SHARSHENBEKOV (KGZ) dominated world university champion Ekrem OZTURK (TUR) to reach the gold-medal match at 55kg, earning a 9-0 technical fall.  Sharshenbekov has not surrounded a point in three matches, picking up three technical falls and outscoring his opposition 29-0. He now meets two-time junior world champion Eldaniz AZIZLI (AZE) in the gold-medal match at 55kg.

Azizli topped Nugzari TSURTSUMIA (GEO) 6-3, scoring all six of his points in the first period, getting a takedown before locking up a gut wrench for two turns. Tsurtsumia scored a takedown with a minute remaining to cut the deficit to three but could not complete the comeback. 

Olympic bronze medalist Elmurat TASMURADOV (UZB) used a four-point throw in the first period on his way to a 4-3 win over Lenur TEMIROV (UKR) in the semifinals at 63kg. Temirov scored a takedown with a minute and twenty seconds left, but Tasmuradov held on for the narrow victory. 

Stepan MARYANYAN (RUS), a world bronze medalist in 2017, knocked off 19-year-old Hassan MOHAMED (EGY) 7-1 to reach the gold-medal match at 63kg. The two traded passivity points until the second period when Maryanyan was able to get on top and lock up his gut wrench for three turns to break the match open. 

Semifinal Results

Greco-Roman

55kg
Zholaman SHARSHENBEKOV (KGZ) df. Ekrem OZTURK (TUR) by VSU, 9-0
Eldaniz AZIZLI (AZE) df. Nugzari TSURTSUMIA (GEO) by VPO1, 6-3

63kg
Elmurat TASMURADOV (UZB) df. Lenur TEMIROV (UKR) by VPO1, 4-3
Stepan MARYANYAN (RUS) df. Hassan MOHAMED (EGY) by VPO1, 7-1

72kg
Balint KORPASI (HUN) df. Aik MNATSAKANIAN (BUL) by VPO1, 3-1
Frank STAEBLER (GER) df. Rasul CHUNAYEV (AZE) by VSU1, 9-1

82kg
Emrah KUS (TUR) df. Saeid Morad ABDVALI (IRI) by VPO1, 6-4
Peter BACSI (HUN) df. Atabek AZISBEKOV (KGZ) by VSU1, 12-4
 

#UnitedWorldWrestling

Wrestlers, coaches successfully complete ITA anti-doping seminars

By United World Wrestling Press

CORSIER-SUR-VEVEY, Switzerland (June 25) -- In it's aim to empower wrestlers and others to play clean, United World Wrestling was of the leading International Federations in the International Testing Agency's IF webinar series on anti-doping.

After the completion of the series, a total of 1906 certificates were delivered to wrestlers, coaches and support staff related to wrestling.

The ITA webinar series consisted of three sessions, held every Wednesday from April 9, moderated by either anti-doping specialists or former Olympians.

UWW made it mandatory for all wrestlers participating in the U17, U23, and Senior World Championships, as well as for wrestlers included in the Registered Testing Pool [RTP] list.

This was a significant jump for UWW in the sheer number of participants of the webinars. Last year, for the first season of the ITA IF webinar series in collaboration with UWW, participation was mandatory for wrestlers competing at the World U20 Championships in Pontevedra.

This was also the first time that UWW asked the athletes participating in Grappling and Pankration/Amateur MMA styles to attended the webinars, another leap in guiding, educating and informing the community on anti-doping rules and responsibilities.

All National Federations were made aware of these webinars through a circular from UWW.

"Clean sport education is a cornerstone for clean sport. UWW is bound by the World Anti-Doping Code to plan, implement and promote education, and it remains committed to safeguarding athletes’ health and the integrity of its sport. As part of the global anti-doping movement led by WADA, UWW is also part of a collaborative worldwide movement for doping-free sport. In line with this, all associated Grappling & Pankration Federation must understand and recognize their role and put into place the rules, policies and systems necessary to fulfil their duties under UWW Anti-Doping Rules. UWW Associated Grappling & Pankration Federations are also responsible for providing anti-doping education to ensure that athletes receive proper guidance on clean sport," the circular read.