#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

 

#WrestleTirana

UWW Europe Concludes General Assembly in Tirana

By United World Wrestling Press

TIRANA, Albania (April 19) — The United World Wrestling European Council held its General Assembly in Tirana on Sunday, on the eve of the European Championships.

The Assembly was chaired by Europe Council President Karl Martin DITTMANN. It was attended by UWW President Nenad LALOVIC, the Council members as well as Secretary General Carlos ROY. Representatives from 30 National Federations were also registered. 

Dittmann presented the annual report of UWW Europe along with finance, budget and program reports.

Lalovic addressed the Assembly and focused on the aspects of developing wrestling and increasing the visibility of the sport.

“We are trying to be one of the most interesting sport to be followed by spectators on television, social media and our platform where we have achieved good results,” Lalovic said. “We believe that we can do much better and we are focused on that”

From the annual report of European Council, a special report was presented on the promotional program for Women’s Wrestling Europe.

Started in 2023, the project was continued in 2024 and 2025 with 11 countries selected for promotion last year. 

These countries were Austria, Croatia, Spain, Estonia, Finland, Kosovo, Latvia, Lithuania, North Macedonia, Switzerland and Sweden.

The postponed project for GBR from 2024 was implemented in 2025.

UWW Europe also developed its own website to achieve better visibility. The new website is - uww-europe.eu.