#Zagreb2018

Iran Scores Two Champions to Win Cadet World Team Title at #Zagreb2018

By Taylor Miller

ZAGREB, Croatia – The final five men’s freestyle champions were determined at the 2018 Cadet World Championships in Zagreb, Croatia, on Wednesday night.

With two World champions in the final day of men’s freestyle competition, Iran took the top spot in the team rankings, scoring 152 points throughout the event.

Winning for Iran tonight was Rahman AMOUZADKHALILI (IRI) at 48 kg and Ali Reza ABDOLLAHI (IRI) at 92 kg.

Amouzadkhalili, the 2018 Cadet Asian champion, defeated Rafayel HARUTYUNYAN (ARM) in the 45 kg gold-medal bout with a 5-0 shutout to open the night.

Closing out the tournament was continental champion Abdollahi at 92 kg, who dominated in a 13-2 championship showing against 2017 Cadet European silver medalist Omer AGTAS (TUR).

Overall, Iran leaves Croatia with three World champions as Amir ZARE won the heavyweight title on Tuesday.

Finishing second in the team race with 132 points was USA, achieving one World champion at 51 kg.

Matthew RAMOS (USA) trailed Kota TAKAHASHI (JPN), 4-2, before ending the match in a pin in 2:40 for 51 kg gold.

Georgia and Turkey each snagged a World champion on Wednesday.

At 60 kg, Hamza ALACA (TUR) was dominant in his gold-medal victory over Georgios KOUGIOUMTSIDIS (GRE), claiming a 10-0 technical fall. Alaca adds to his Cadet European gold medal from earlier this year.

Cadet European champion Bagrati GAGNIDZE (GEO) won the 71 kg World title after trailing late in the match against Baliyan GOURAV (IND). Gagnidze scored four points on two attempted throws within the last 15 seconds for a 6-6 win on criteria.

Rounding out the top-five in the team race was Russia in third with 116 points, Azerbaijan in fourth with 105 points and Japan in fifth with 83 points.

The World Championships continue tomorrow at 4:30 a.m. ET on unitedworldwrestling.com.

Final men’s freestyle team scores (top 10)
1. Iran – 152
2. USA – 132
3. Russia – 116
4. Azerbaijan – 105
5. Japan – 83
6. Georgia – 82
7. Turkey – 80
8. India – 74
9. Uzbekistan – 56
10. Armenia – 44

Final results                
48 kg
GOLD -
Rahman AMOUZADKHALILI (IRI)
SILVER - Rafayel HARUTYUNYAN (ARM)
BRONZE - Shakhbos KOMILOV (UZB)
BRONZE - Ahmet YUCEL (TUR)

1st: Rahman AMOUZADKHALILI (IRI) dec. Rafayel HARUTYUNYAN (ARM), 5-0
3rd: Shakhbos KOMILOV (UZB) dec. Chance LAMER (USA), 10-2
3rd: Ahmet YUCEL (TUR) TF Thomas FISCHER (SUI), 10-0

51 kg
GOLD - Matthew RAMOS (USA)
SILVER - Kota TAKAHASHI (JPN)
BRONZE - Seyederfan JAFARIANGELYERDI (IRI)
BRONE - Aman AMAN (IND)

1st: Matthew RAMOS (USA) fall Kota TAKAHASHI (JPN), 2:40
3rd: Seyederfan JAFARIANGELYERDI (IRI) dec. Ioannis MARTIDIS (GRE), 6-0
3rd: Aman AMAN (IND) dec. Adem UZUN (TUR), 9-4

60 kg
GOLD - Hamza ALACA (TUR)
SILVER - Georgios KOUGIOUMTSIDIS (GRE)
BRONZE - Ravinder RAVINDER (IND)
BRONZE - Aliakbar FAZLIKHALILI (IRI)

1st: Hamza ALACA (TUR) TF Georgios KOUGIOUMTSIDIS (GRE), 10-0
3rd: Ravinder RAVINDER (IND) dec. Sabir JAFAROV (AZE), 6-0
3rd: Aliakbar FAZLIKHALILI (IRI) TF Shamil MAMEDOV (RUS), 18-7

71 kg
GOLD - Bagrati GAGNIDZE (GEO)
SILVER -
Baliyan GOURAV (IND)
BRONZE - Alex FACUNDO (USA)
BRONZE - Shinnosuke SUWAMA (JPN)

1st: Bagrati GAGNIDZE (GEO) dec. Baliyan GOURAV (IND), 6-6
3rd: Alex FACUNDO (USA) dec. Makhmud MAGOMEDOV (RUS), 6-6
3rd: Shinnosuke SUWAMA (JPN) dec. Dominik MEZEI (HUN), 6-2

92 kg
GOLD - Ali Reza ABDOLLAHI (IRI)
SILVER - Omer AGTAS (TUR)
BRONZE - Albert FERRARI (USA)
BRONZE - Alik DZHIGKAEV (RUS)

1st: Ali Reza ABDOLLAHI (IRI) TF Omer AGTAS (TUR), 13-2
3rd: Alik DZHIGKAEV (RUS) dec. Giorgi CHANKSELIANI (GEO), 6-4
3rd: Albert FERRARI (USA) dec. Johannes MAYER (GER), 3-2

 

#WrestleBratislava

Adar, the woman of firsts in Turkiye wrestling, retires

By Vinay Siwach

BRATISLAVA, Slovakia (April 10) -- Turkiye's first-ever Olympic medalist, first-ever world and European champion in Women's Wrestling, Yasemin ADAR (TUR)retired Thursday after 16 years of international wrestling.

A winner of seven gold medals at the European Championships did not have a fairytale ending as she lost the 76kg final against Anastasiya ALPYEYEVA (UKR) on Thursday at the European Championships in Bratislava.

Despite the loss, Adar undoubtedly retires the trailblazer in Women's Wrestling for Turkiye. In 2016, she won her first European title to create history before adding the world title in 2017. In 2021, she became the first Turkish wrestler in Women's Wrestling to win the bronze medal when she pinned Aiperi MEDET KYZY (KGZ) to claim the medal at the Tokyo Olympics.

"I had an incredible career in the 76kg category," Adar said after the European Championships final. "I had many successes and many firsts. I became a two-time world champion. I was at the Olympics with bronze medal. So I have an incredibly beautiful career and I am proud of myself. I can't believe it. It's very difficult to describe. I am very emotional today."

Adar, who had tears in her eyes while was taking off her shoes on the mat to mark her retirement, is aptly called the "woman of firsts" in Türkiye. With her teammates and family in the stands cheering for her, the final match became even more emotional for Adar.

"I finished my wrestling and believe me it was not easy at all," she said. "I even rehearsed it many times before coming here. I said this is where I will finish my career. In my speech, I always wanted to be considered as the legend of 76kilograms. This match was more nervous for me. I had planned it beforehand, I knew that this match was the last match. Even though I couldn't earn the gold medal, I ended it with silver. But believe me, there are really great successes in my career."

On how she came to the decision of retiring at the European Championships, Adar was clear that she wanted to pass on the baton to the younger generation.

"Even if you don't want it, wrestling starts to leave you," she said. "Although there are those who say I am very good, I try to compare it to a situation like this. I am 34-years-old with an 18-year-old athlete and unfortunately we cannot have the same performance."