#WrestleBelgrade

Iran Starts Strong With 3 GR Finalists on #WrestleBelgrade Day 1

By Vinay Siwach

BELGRADE, Serbia (November 1) – A lot of Iran's success is built on high-paced wrestling, enabling them to break down their opponents. A combination of that pace and exceptional ground wrestling was on display as Iran sent three wrestlers to the finals of the U23 World Championships.

A month after their senior Greco-Roman team set a high bar at the Oslo World Championships, the U23 wrestlers were not far behind on the first day of the tournament in Belgrade with Tokyo Olympian Amin MIRZAZADEH (IRI) leading the way.

Wrestlers from five Greco-Roman weight classes were in action on Monday. Iran took three spots in the final, while Russia and Hungary each grabbed a pair of berths. Turkey, Armenia and Georgia complete Tuesday night's gold-medal match lineup.

Apart from Mirzazadeh at 130kg, Poya DAD MARZ (IRI) and Amin KAVIYANINEJAD (IRI) made it to the finals at 55kg and 77kg, respectively.

Kaviyaninejad was undoubtedly the day's outstanding performer, as he outscored his four opponents 33-5. The five points he conceded all came against Erkan ERGEN (TUR) in the quarterfinals. But he scripted a comeback with a series of gut-wrench after trailing by four points to win, 10-5.

In the semifinal, he was up against U23 European champion Sergei STEPANOV (RUS) in what turned out to be a one-sided affair.

The Iranian, who won a bronze medal at '17 U23 Worlds, broke the deadlock with a stepout and then was awarded a point for Stepanov's passivity. From the par-terre, he was able to roll Stepanov twice to lead 6-0.

With the match slipping away, the Russian tried a front headlock but failed to finish and Kaviyaninejad got the exposure and two points to win 8-0 and reach the finals.

With the match slipping away, the Russian tried a front headlock but failed to finish, and Kaviyaninejad got the exposure and two points to win 8-0 and reach the finals.

Tamas LEVAI (HUN) awaits Kaviyaninejad in the final as he was one of the two Hungarian wrestlers who made it to the gold medal bout.

Once again, it was Levai's defense that was the constant throughout the day. It helped him beat Dmytro VASETSKYI (UKR), 5-1, in the semifinal.

The other Amin was not so aggressive but still got the job done with a 5-1 win over Fatih BOZKURT (TUR). He began the semifinal with a big four-point throw, earned another point for Bozkurt's passivity before giving up one for his own.

He will face David OVASAPYAN (ARM) in the final, three years after they competed in the final of the Junior World Championships in Trnava, Slovakia.

Mirzazadeh came out on top in that bout, but Ovasapyan would like to avenge that loss and claim the world title this time around.

On his way to the final, Mirzazadeh defeated U23 European champion Mikhail LAPTAEV (RUS) in the highly-anticipated pre-quarterfinals.

Scoring an early stepout, Mirzazadeh gave up that lead when he was called passive. But Laptaev failed to score from par-terre, and the score remained 1-1 at the break. Then, as Mirzazadeh up the ante, the referees were forced to call Laptaev passive which restored a 2-1 lead for the Iranian, which he continued to hold despite being warned for passivity late in the second period.

Leri ABULADZELeri ABULADZE (GEO) defeated Alireza NEJATI (IRI) in the 63kg semifinal. (Photo: UWW / Kadir Caliskan)

Iran's big hope to reach the final at 63kg, Alireza NEJATI (IRI) fell short after a heartbreaking semifinal loss to senior world silver medalist Leri ABULADZE (GEO).

The Georgian produced a tactical bout and led 3-3 on criteria until the final seconds. Nejati made a big attempt to score via a head-over jump, but Abuladze was ready for it and slammed the Iranian on the mat for four points, winning 7-3.

Meysam DALKHANI (IRI) had stopped Abuladze from winning the gold in Oslo and that loss motivated the Georgian to win Monday.

"I was really motivated," Abuladze said. "It was kind of revenge for me because I lost to an Iranian wrestler Oslo and now I won against Iran in the semifinal, so it feels like a little revenge."

Abuladze was dominant from the start as he scored two points after Nejati was called passive to lead 3-0. A lost challenge from Georgia put Iran on board as well.

In the second period, Abuladze was called passive, but Nejati failed to score from par-terre, and the Georgian kept the 3-2 lead. He scored a stepout with eight seconds left but that was too little too late.

Abuladze will now take on Ahmet UYAR (TUR) who took no time to finish his semifinal 11-0 against Corneliu RUSU (MDA).

At 87kg, U23 European champion Aleksandr KOMAROV (RUS) survived a 7-7 scare against Temuri TCHKUASELIDZE (GEO) in a rematch from the final of the '21 U23 Euros.

Six months back, Komarov had an easy 6-1 win, but Monday, Tchkuaselidze almost pulled it off, and it was only the criteria of Komarov's four-point throw after the Georgian's that let him down.

Komarov expressed his displeasure at his performance, especially in the semifinal, which, according to him, he was lucky to win.

"I made a lot of mistakes in the semifinal," Komarov said. "I wrestled really bad. I don't know what helped me win but I was lucky that I won."

He will hope that the luck continues to shine on him as he takes on David LOSONCZI (HUN) in the 87kg final Tuesday.

Losonczi reached his first-ever World final after a 6-0 win over Szymon SZYMONOWICZ (POL) in the semifinal.

Mavlud RIZMANOVMavlud RIZMANOV (RUS) outscored his opponents 31-4 on Monday. (Photo: UWW / Kadir Caliskan)

Iran and Russia will be up against each other in the 55kg final, a bout which will be huge in the context of the team title race, expected to come down between these two nations.

Mavlud RIZMANOV (RUS) will face Dad Marz in the final after a stunning performance in which he only gave up four points against the 31 he scored.

The four points resulted from a big front-headlock throw from Arslan ABDURAKHMANOV (KAZ) in the semifinal. But Rizmanov looked unfazed as he stamped his authority with a 13-4 win.

"I am happy with my wrestling today," Rizmanov said. "Hopefully, it will keep it the same way."

If it does, Dad Marz will have difficulty winning that gold medal at 55kg and the team race can tilt in favor of Russia.

Greco-Roman will continue Tuesday with the five remaining weight classes – 60kg, 67kg, 72kg, 82kg and 97kg.

Results
55kg

GOLD - Mavlud RIZMANOV (RUS) vs. Poya Soulat DAD MARZ (IRI)

SF 1: Mavlud RIZMANOV (RUS) df. Arslan ABDURAKHMANOV (KAZ), 13-4
SF 2: Poya DAD MARZ (IRI) df. Taylor Craig LA MONT (USA), 5-1

63kg
GOLD - Ahmet UYAR (TUR) vs. Leri ABULADZE (GEO)

SF 1: Leri ABULADZE (GEO) df. Ali NEJATI (IRI), 7-4
SF 2: Ahmet UYAR (TUR) df. Corneliu RUSU (MDA), 11-0

77kg
GOLD - Tamas LEVAI (HUN) vs. Amin KAVIYANINEJAD (IRI)

SF 1: Amin KAVIYANINEJAD (IRI) df. Sergei STEPANOV (RUS), 8-0
SF 2: Tamas LEVAI (HUN) df. Dmytro VASETSKYI (UKR), 5-1

87kg
GOLD - David LOSONCZI (HUN) vs. Aleksandr KOMAROV (RUS)

SF 1: Aleksandr KOMAROV (RUS) df. Temuri TCHKUASELIDZE (GEO), 7-7
SF 2: David LOSONCZI (HUN) df. Szymon SZYMONOWICZ (POL), 6-0

130kg
GOLD - David OVASAPYAN (ARM) vs. Amin MIRZAZADEH (IRI)

SF 1: Amin MIRZAZADEH (IRI) df. Fatih BOZKURT (TUR), 5-1
SF 2: David OVASAPYAN (ARM) df. Dariusz Attila VITEK (HUN), via fall

#WrestleBelgrade

Susaki defends 50kg title, leads Japan sweep of WW golds

By Ken Marantz

BELGRADE, Serbia (September 20) -- A day after showing a few chinks in her armor, Yui SUSAKI (JPN) completed her crusade to a fourth world title and a shot at a second straight Olympic gold with a display of her old dominance.

Susaki blasted away Otgonjargal DOLGORJAV (MGL) with a 10-0 technical fall to retain the women's 50kg title at the World Championships, leading a Japanese sweep of the four gold medals at stake in women's wrestling on Wednesday at Belgrade's Stark Arena.

"As a Tokyo Olympic champion, I want to be one who pulls the Japanese team up and can be relied on," said Susaki, whose preparations for Belgrade were severely curtailed by a torn ligament of her right knee.

In the other Olympic weights, Tsugumi SAKURAI (JPN) successfully defended her title at 57kg for her third straight world gold, and Yuka KAGAMI (JPN) won at 76kg, making her the first Japanese woman to win a world title at the heaviest weight in two decades. 

Meanwhile, Nonoka OZAKI (JPN) captured a second straight world title with a bittersweet victory in the non-Olympic weight of 65kg.

Susaki's match against Dolgorjav was a rematch of the final a year ago in the same arena, and it went better than expected, given the problems Susaki had in her preparations for Belgrade and the vulnerability she showed in her matches on Tuesday.

It was vintage Susaki, who came out firing on all cylinders, scoring a single-leg takedown and immediately going into her devastating lace lock. She could only manage three spins, but that only delayed the inevitable as she quickly scored another single-leg takedown to finish off the match in 1:29.

The 24-year-old Susaki, who won her previous world titles in 2017, 2018 and 2022, had been unable to properly train in the run-up to Belgrade and even skipped a national team training camp, which is otherwise unheard of.

But she said that with a strong support team, she managed to be ready enough for the mission at hand. "If I had to do it on my own, I would not have made it here," Susaki said.

Susaki turned heads during the preliminary rounds on Tuesday when she gave up rare points in two matches, a far cry from her winning run at the Tokyo Olympics and last year's worlds, where she struck gold without conceding a point.

Yui SUSAKI (JPN)Yui SUSAKI (JPN) is now a four-time senior world champion. (Photo: UWW / Kadir Caliskan)

Susaki said she gained inspiration from the Japan men's basketball team, which earlier this month put on amazing rallies at the World Cup to clinch a place at the Paris Olympics.

"At that time, coach [Tom] HOVASSE used the word 'Believe,'" Susaki said. "My sister sent me a video of the clinching game and said, 'Yui, we believe in you. If you are hurt or things are going tough, we believe you will become a world champion and get to the Paris Olympics.'

"That really gave me strength and by believing, I won the world title."

The Belgrade worlds also serves as the first qualifier for spots at the 2024 Paris Olympics, with five quotas available in each weight class. For the Japanese wrestlers, their federation has decreed that winning a medal means that they fill the spot without having to go through a playoff process.

"There is going to be pressure and other circumstances in the year heading to the Paris Olympics, but I'm really looking forward to all of it," Susaki said. "I definitely want to win a second straight title in Paris.

Tsugumi SAKURAI (JPN)Tsugumi SAKURAI (JPN) defeated Anastasia NICHITA (MDA) to become a three-time world champion. (Photo: UWW / Kostadin Andonov)

Sakurai captured her third world title overall and the ticket to Paris with a 3-2 victory over Anastasia NICHITA (MDA) in a battle of 2022 world champions.

Sakurai gained an activity point in the first period but had trouble finishing off her takedown attempts against Nichita, the gold medalist last year at 59kg who dropped down to the Olympic weight. But Sakurai finally broke through off a 2-on-1 for a 3-0 lead.

Nichita gained a takedown with 25 seconds left to make it interesting, but Sakurai staved off her late attempts to secure the win.

Like the other Japanese, Sakurai had to go through a grueling process just to make the team to Belgrade. In her case, it meant beating Tokyo Olympic champion Risako KAWAI (JPN) (now KINJO) among others.

"I trained for the purpose of winning this gold medal," said the 22-year-old Sakurai, who also won the world title at 55kg in 2021. "There were tough times, but I'm glad I practiced hard."

Sakurai said she received many messages of congratulations after winning her semifinal on Tuesday, which clinched the Olympic spot. But for her, the job was not finished.

"To me, I had one more match to win, so I went into today with a different mind," she said. "I practiced to win the title, not get to the Olympics.

"It's interesting to think about what the Olympics is like. I think I will be studied more [by my opponents], so I want to train hard to become a strong wrestler who can beat any opponent."

Yuka KAGAMI (JPN)Yuka KAGAMI (JPN) won the 76kg gold medal for her first world title. (Photo: UWW / Kostadin Andonov)

At 76kg, Kagami added her first senior title to her collection of age-group golds when Aiperi MEDET KYZY (KGZ) sadly had to default after suffering a knee injury.

Kagami scored a takedown on a low single early in the second period but wrenched Medet Kyzy's right knee in the process. Medet Kyzy would continue, but Kagami increased the lead to 8-0 and eventually, the tournament doctor decided Medet Kyzy was unable to go on.

While it was not the optimal way to win, it did not take away from the joy felt by Kagami, who had to overcome a shoulder injury herself that required surgery early in the year.

"This is the best and happiest day of my life," said Kagami, who won a bronze medal last year. "In December I was injured, and it was a hard recovery for six months. Every day I was out of breath and crying as I practiced.

"The competition in Japan is hard and it's even harder in the world, but I didn't set limits for myself and I set a goal. My objective was to win a gold medal."

Kagami, who turned 22 last week, is a product of the JOC Elite Academy which also produced Susaki and Ozaki. Her victory makes her the first Japanese champion at the heaviest women's weight since Kyoko HAMAGUCHI (JPN) won at 72kg in 2003.

Nonoka OZAKI (JPN)Nonoka OZAKI (JPN) used the lace to beat Macey KILTY (USA) 10-0 in the 65kg final. (Photo: UWW / Kadir Caliskan)

Ozaki won the world gold last year at 62kg but lost out to Sakura MOTOKI (JPN) for a place on the Japan team at that weight. When Motoki advanced to the 62kg final earlier in the day, it all but closed off Ozaki's path to Paris, barring injury or other unforeseen circumstances.

That realization came to the fore after she defeated Macey KILTY (USA) in the 65kg final. She managed a smile, but would soon be reduced to tears about taking home what for her is a consolation prize.

"When I won the title, it hit me that it wasn't in an Olympic weight class," Ozaki said of breaking down in tears after taking a victory lap with the Japanese flag.

Ozaki rolled to her third 10-0 technical fall in four matches -- the other was a 9-0 victory -- overwhelming Kilty in the final for her second world gold and third medal overall.

Ozaki gained a single-leg takedown, then reeled off a pair of lace-lock rolls. When Kilty managed to squirm out of the hold, Ozaki bulled her over for another 2, then applied the coup to grace by turning her over a final time with a cross-face and leg lift at 1:01.

"It was tough to see someone else clinch the team spot in my weight class," said Ozaki, who broke down while speaking to the media in the mixed zone. "It was my own fault. Sports is like that. I have to accept it."

Ozaki will now look to bounce back at the Asian Games early next month.

"I have the option of going to the Asian Games," Ozaki said. "The 62kg division has Aisuluu [TYNYBEKOVA (KGZ)] and the strong Mongolian [Orkhon PUREVDORJ (MGL)]. We will be leaving one week after I get home. I have no choice but to put this behind me."

Helen MAROULIS (USA)Helen MAROULIS (USA) won a bronze medal at 57kg after victory over Anhelina LYSAK (POL). (Photo: UWW / Kostadin Andonov)

Maroulis, Gray grab bronzes, Paris places

American 30-something stars Helen MAROULIS (USA) and Adeline GRAY (USA) both added to their extensive world medal collections and claimed an Olympic berth in their weight class with 10-6 victories in the bronze-medal matches.

Maroulis gave up a 4-point throw during her clash with Anhelina LYSAK (POL), but stuffed her twice for points en route to win 10-6 at 57kg.

Gray, whose loss in the quarterfinals to Kagami ended her bid for a seventh world gold, punctuated her takedowns with points from par terre, and that made the difference in her 10-6 decision over Milaimys MARIN (CUB) at 76kg.

It was still a triumph of sorts for Gray, who returned to the mat this year for the first time since her gold-medal run in 2021 after getting married and giving birth to twins.

Earlier, compatriot and Olympic bronze medalist Sarah HILDEBRANDT (USA) earned her second straight bronze medal and fourth world medal overall, scoring a takedown in each period to defeat 2022 European champion Evin DEMIRHAN (TUR) 5-0 at 50kg.

Tatiana RENTERIA (COL)Tatiana RENTERIA (COL) won the bronze medal, only the second for Colombia at the World Championships. (Photo: UWW / Amirreza Aliasgari)

Colombia had two chances to get just the second world medal in its history, and after Alisson CARDOZO (COL) came up short at 50kg, Tatiana RENTERIA (COL) pulled it off at 76kg.

Renteria, the 2022 world U23 champion, had a 6-1 lead when she stopped a desperation throw attempt by Catalina AXENTE (ROU), fell on top of her and secured a fall with one second left on the clock.

With the victory, Renteria joins namesake Jackeline RENTERIA (COL), a bronze medalist at 63kg in 2017, as Colombia's world medalist.

Asian bronze medalist Ziqi FENG (CHN) gave China its first Olympic berth with a Japanese-like, lace-locked-filled technical fall over Cardozo at 50kg. Feng gained a single-leg takedown, then immediately locked up the ankles and ripped off four rolls for a 10-0 victory in 2:19.

Odunayo ADEKUOROYE )COLOdunayo ADEKUOROYE (NGR) won the 57kg bronze and qualified Nigeria for the Paris Olympics. (Photo: UWW / Kostadin Andonov)

In the other third-place match at 57kg, Odunayo ADEKUOROYE (NGR) picked up her fourth world medal by putting on a late rush and then holding on to defeat Elvira KAMALOGLU (TUR) 9-5.

Akekuoroye was trailing 1-1 on criteria when she scored a takedown with a minute to go, then seemed to put the match away with three lace-lock rolls. But Kamalaglu put the pressure on and got two stepouts, each with a fleeing point tacked on, but it was not enough to deny the Nigerian.

At 65kg, European champion Mimi HRISTOVA (BUL) picked up her first world medal, muscling Tatsiana PAULAVA (AIN) into a cradle and securing a fall at 1:51 of their bronze-medal match.

LILI (CHN) also got her opponent into a cradle, but although she was at the edge and didn't have the room to turn Kadriye AKSOY (TUR) over, the takedown was enough to give her a 3-2 victory and the other 65kg bronze.

Turkiye, Poland, Cuba win 5th-place playoffs

Turkiye, Poland and Cuba each picked up a Paris quota when their wrestler won the fifth-place playoff in their respective weight class.

Turkiye's Demirhan scored a first-period takedown and defeated Cardozo 4-1 at 50kg, but her country was prevented from a second one when Poland's Lysak pinned Kamaloglu at 57kg.

Lysak twice gave up exposure points after scoring with a throw, but on the third attempt, managed to hold down Kamaloglu for the fall.

At 76kg, Cuba's Marin made short work of Axente, using a blast double to send her to her back and scoring a fall in 49 seconds.

jo

Day 4 Results

Women

50kg (28 entries)
GOLD: Yui SUSAKI (JPN) df. Otgonjargal DOLGORJAV (MGL) by TF, 10-0, 1:29

BRONZE: Ziqi FENG (CHN) df. Alisson CARDOZO (COL) by TF, 10-0, 2:18
BRONZE: Sarah HILDEBRANDT (USA) df. Evin DEMIRHAN (TUR) by 5-0

5th-Place Playoff: Evin DEMIRHAN (TUR) df. Alisson CARDOZO (COL), 4-1

53kg (31 entries)
GOLD: Akari FUJINAMI (JPN) vs. Vanesa KALADZINSKAYA (AIN)

Semifinal: Akari FUJINAMI (JPN) df. Maria PREVOLARAKI (GRE) by TF, 10-0, 00:42
Semifinal: Vanesa KALADZINSKAYA (AIN) df. ANTIM (UWW), 5-4

57kg (36 entries)
GOLD:  Tsugumi SAKURAI (JPN) df. Anastasia NICHITA (MDA), 3-2

BRONZE: Odunayo ADEKUOROYE (NGR) df. Elvira KAMALOGLU (TUR), 9-5
BRONZE: Helen MAROULIS (USA) df. Anhelina LYSAK (POL), 10-6

5th-Place Playoff: Anhelina LYSAK (POL) df. Elvira KAMALOGLU (TUR) by Fall, 1:56 (8-4)

62kg (34 entries)
GOLD: Sakura MOTOKI (JPN) vs. Aisuluu TYNYBEKOVA (KGZ)

Semifinal: Sakura MOTOKI (JPN) df. Grace BULLEN (NOR), 2-1
Semifinal: Aisuluu TYNYBEKOVA (KGZ) df. Luisa NIEMESCH (GER), 4-2

65kg (17 entries)
GOLD: Nonoka OZAKI (JPN) df. Macey KILTY (USA) by TF, 10-0, 1:00

BRONZE: Mimi HRISTOVA (BUL) df. Tatsiana PAULAVA (AIN) by Fall, 1:51 (4-2)
BRONZE: Lili LILI (CHN) df. Kadriye AKSOY (TUR), 3-2

68kg (33 entries)
GOLD: Delgermaa ENKHSAIKHAN (MGL) vs. Buse CAVUSOGLU TOSUN (TUR)

Semifinal: Delgermaa ENKHSAIKHAN (MGL) df. Emma BRUNTIL (USA) by Fall, 2:44 (6-0)
Semifinal: Buse CAVUSOGLU TOSUN (TUR) df. Ami ISHII (JPN) by TF, 11-1, 2:40

72kg (18 entries)
GOLD: Davaanasan ENKH AMAR (MGL) vs. Amit ELOR (USA)

Semifinal: Davaanasan ENKH AMAR (MGL) df. Zhamila BAKBERGENOVA (KAZ), 6-2
Semifinal: Amit ELOR (USA) df. Kendra DACHER (FRA) by TF, 12-2, 5:24

76kg (29 entries)
GOLD: Yuka KAGAMI (JPN) df. Aiperi MEDET KYZY (KGZ) by Inj. Def., 5:06 (8-0)

BRONZE: Tatiana RENTERIA (COL) df. Catalina AXENTE (ROU) by Fall, 5:58 (8-1)
BRONZE: Adeline GRAY (USA) df. Milaimys MARIN (CUB), 10-6

5th-Place Playoff: Milaimys MARIN (CUB) df. Catalina AXENTE (ROU) by Fall, :49 (8-0)