Iran survives Uzbekistan scare to win Greco title at U17 Worlds

Wednesday, July 30, 2025 - 16:59 By Vinay Siwach

ATHENS, Greece (July 30) -- Four gold medals were not enough for Uzbekistan as they fell short in what could have been a generational team title in Greco-Roman at the World U17 Championships.

Iran, which won one gold medal out of 10, was crowned team champions as it performed well in placing their wrestlers in the weight classes. It finished with 125 points while Uzbekistan finished seven short at 118 points. Kazakhstan finished third with 113 points.

Kyrgyzstan and Azerbaijan were not far behind and finished fourth and fifth respectively, tied on 100 points. Both countries had one gold medal each but Kyrgyzstan had two silver medals to Azerbaijan's one to finish ahead of them.

Iran had eight wrestlers in the medal-bouts and six of them returned with one. Iran finished with one gold, one silver and four bronze medals. Uzbekistan, on the other side, had only those four golds to show. Four of its wrestlers did not contribute points to the team race.

In one head-to-head bout on Wednesday, Abolfazl ZARE (IRI) secured a 7-5 win over Humoyun ERKINOV (UZB) in 60kg bronze-medal bout which proved crucial. A win for Erkinov would have seen Uzbekistan win the title.

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Then it was the gold medal of Amirsam MOHAMMADI (IRI) at 92kg which helped Iran jump from fourth place to first. He wrestled Kanstantsin KASYAN (UWW) for the gold medal and began with three stepouts. Kasyan was called passive and put in par terre. Mohammadi turned him twice and won the final 8-0 in 1 minute and 12 seconds.

Uzbekistan's two gold medals came at 51kg and 71kg.

Otabek TURSUNOV (UZB) won the gold medal at 51kg in Athens. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kostadin Andonov)

Asian U17 bronze medalist Otabek TURSUNOV (UZB) added a third Greco gold of the World U17 Championships for Uzbekistan after he defeated Hikmat HAGVERDIYEV (AZE), 4-1, in the 51kg.

Hagverdiyev was about to be called passive and put in par terre but he scored a stepout to avoid that call and lead 1-0. Tursunov answered with a stepout of his own and made 1-1. However, the criteria remained with Hagverdiyev as United World Wrestling is testing a new rule, where in Greco-Roman, if the score is 1-1, the criteria will be with the wrestler who got the first point.

Tursunov, however, got the par terre position in the second period and a 2-1 lead over Hagverdiyev. He defended his lead for the final minute and as the Azerbaijan wrestler tried a throw, he blocked him and landed on top, earning two more points.

Behruzbek VALIEV (UZB) upgraded his bronze from 2024 to gold in 2025. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Amirreza Aliasgari)

At 71kg, Asian U17 champion Behruzbek VALIEV (UZB) denied the hosts a gold after he defeated Dimitrios SOULIS (GRE), 3-1, in the final.

Valiev seemed to have taken the burnt from a few tough bouts from Tuesday as he struggled with his attacks against Soulis, who was egged on by vocal home fans.

However, he found enough inside him to turn from par terre and defend from that position in the second period to win the fourth gold medal of the tournament for Uzbekistan.

Ali NAZAROV (AZE) scored a 6-1 victory over Amangeldi YSAKBAEV (KGZ) in the 60kg final. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kostadin Andonov)

Ali NAZAROV (AZE) showed why gut-wrench is still one of the best techniques to score points in wrestling as he rolled Amangeldi YSAKBAEV (KGZ) two times from par terre using gut wrench and win the world title at 60kg.

He later defended his par terre position, winning the final 6-1 and handing Azerbaijan the first gold medal for the World U17 Championships in Athens.

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An action-packed match kicked off the medal bouts with Kuanyshbek ZHANGAZHOL (KAZ) and Nurkerim KUMARBEKOV (KGZ) did not hold back their attacks as soon as the final began.

Zhangazhol did not waste much time to get going in the final against Kumarbekov as he used an arm throw to score the first four points but it was removed after he was warned for using his leg.

But he scored a takedown for a 2-0 and then hit a front headlock throw to make it 6-0. Kumarbekov answered with a four-pointer as well and both wrestlers used arm-rolls in the same sequence to score points. When they broke off at the break, Zhangazhol led 8-6.

After the blazing first half, both wrestlers had a subdued second and no more points were scored despite desperate attempts from Kumarbekov. Zhangazhol celebrated his win a split-second early but there was no harm done.

Kyrgyzstan challenged for fleeing in the final five seconds and on review, Zhangazhol was it with a caution for defensive foul, it only got Kumarbekov a point, making Zhangazhol's winning score 8-7.

RESULTS

45kg
GOLD: Kuanyshbek ZHANGAZHOL (KAZ) df. Nurkerim KUMARBEKOV (KGZ), 9-6

BRONZE: Abdurrahman HUSEYNLI (AZE) df. Tymur MAHARRAMOV (UKR), 9-0
BRONZE: Vadim TARELUNGA (MDA) vs. Benyamin KHEZLI (IRI), 8-3

51kg
GOLD: Otabek TURSUNOV (UZB) df. Hikmat HAGVERDIYEV (AZE), 4-1

BRONZE: Marat ATSHEMYAN (ARM) df. Polat KARADENIZ (TUR), 11-0
BRONZE: Abu Bakar SAGA (NOR) df. Islam KURBANOV (KGZ), 5-3

60kg
GOLD: Ali NAZAROV (AZE) df. Amangeldi YSAKBAEV (KGZ), 6-1

BRONZE: Abolfazl ZARE (IRI) df. Humoyun ERKINOV (UZB), 7-5
BRONZE: Zaven MEZHLUMYAN (ARM) df. Denys SEREDIN (UKR), 5-2

71kg
GOLD: Behruzbek VALIEV (UZB) df. Dimitrios SOULIS (GRE), 3-1

BRONZE: Hossein KAZEMI (IRI) df. Yusif AHMADLI (AZE), 4-3
BRONZE: Marlen MEIRBEKULY (KAZ) df. Imre KOLOMPAR (HUN), 7-1

92kg
GOLD: Amirsam MOHAMMADI (IRI) df. Kanstantsin KASYAN (UWW), 8-0

BRONZE: Ahmet UZUN (TUR) df. Said PASHAYEV (AZE), 5-0
BRONZE: David CALKINS (USA) df. Ionut PATRU (ROU), 4-0

#WrestleTirana

Salkazanov Reclaims 74kg Gold for Fifth European Title

Sunday, April 26, 2026 - 23:07 By Vinay Siwach

TIRANA, Albania (April 26) -- A smile beamed across Tajmuraz SALKAZANOV's (SVK) face as he stood atop the medal podium, receiving the gold medal after winning the 74kg title at the European Championships in Tirana, Albania.

Salkazanov won his fifth European title, regaining the crown after losing it to Chermen VALIEV (ALB) last year. Valiev, who is recovering from a knee surgery, was in the stands at the Feti Borova Olympic Park Arena as the Slovak wrestler returned to the top.

"It’s very satisfying to see that my hard work has paid off," Salkazanov said. "I’m particularly pleased today, because it’s been over two years since my country’s national anthem was played in my honor. So I’m glad that it worked out. That’s exactly why I was so happy on the podium."

Salkazanov had a four-year golden run winning titles in 2021, 2022, 2023 and 2024 before losing to Zaurbek SIDAKOV (UWW) last year. Sidakov would later lose to Valiev in the 74kg final.

Since neither of Sidakov or Valiev were entered, Salkazanov faced Turan BAYRAMOV (AZE) in the final and in typical Salkazanov fashion bullied Bayramov with his defense. However, it was Bayramov who was put on the activity clock in the first period. Salkazanov went 1-0 up at the break.

In the second period, he scored two stepouts to extend his lead to 3-0 before Bayramov pushed the pace of the bout as he needed at least three points for a win. Bayramov's attack paid off in the final 10 seconds of the match when he scored a takedown to make it 3-2 but Salkazanov showed presence of mind and moved close to the edge of the mat to not give up any more points.

As time ran out, Bayramov thought he managed to score a point for Salkazanov's hand touching outside the zone. As it was not scored, he challenged only to see it lost and adding one more point to Salkazanov's score, making him a 4-2 winner.

Despite being a four-time champion before, Salkazanov said he was more confident this year and had not done anything to win the gold medal.

"I can’t say I’ve worked on anything in particular," he said. "The main thing is that I’ve gained more confidence over time, and perhaps a bit more experience."

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Azerbaijan suffered another heartbreak on Sunday as world bronze medalist Arsenii DZHIOEV (AZE) dropped a close 86kg final to Ibragim KADIEV (UWW). The two did not score any action points and exchanged activity clock points.

Kadiev got the one point in the second period to hold a 1-1 criteria lead which he defended till the end. Dzhioev tried scoring a takedown in the final 10 seconds and almost got it but Kadiev was firm in his defense. Azerbaijan challenged asking for a point but Dzhioev neither had control over Kadiev nor he pushed him out.

The lost challenge added one point to Kadiev's score to give him a 2-1 win, making him the European champion at 86kg in his first attempt.

Giorgi MESHVILDISHVILI (AZE) defended his 125kg title in Tirana. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kadir Caliskan)

Azerbaijan Wins Team Title

Despite the two losses in Sunday's finals, Azerbaijan won the team title as it did in Greco-Roman on Wednesday. With three golds, a silver, one bronze and all but one wrestlers contributing to team points, Azerbaijan won the team title with 152 points. Georgia finished second with 94 points and Armenia was third with 73 points.

Azerbaijan also crowned two European champions on the final day of the European Championships as defending champion Giorgi MESHVILDISHVILI (AZE) retained his 125kg title while Ali TCOKAEV (AZE) won the 92kg gold medal.

Meshvildishvili, who had a close final last year, did not let Vladislav BAJCAJEV (HUN) challenge him this year. Bajcajev was put on the activity clock twice in the match and Meshvildishvili scored three go-behind takedowns to win the final 8-0.

Ali TCOKAEV (AZE) celebrates after beating Ahmed BATAEV (BUL) in the 92kg final. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kadir Caliskan)

Tcokaev's gold medal at 92kg came at the expense of Ahmed BATAEV (BUL) after the two gave no space to each other. Bataev got on board first with a stepout despite the move being initiated by Tcokaev. However, the Bulgaria wrestler was put on the activity clock and Tcokaev scored a stepout before the clock expired, which gave him a 2-1 lead over Bataev.

Using the underhook, Tcokaev scored another stepout to start the second period, extending his lead to 3-1. His third stepout made it 4-1 despite Bataev's resistance. Just when it looked like that Tcokaev will have no trouble till the clock expires, Bataev managed to score a takedown in the final 15 seconds to cut the lead to 4-3.

However, Bataev could not find the match-winning point and his desperate challenge was lost as well, giving a 5-3 win to Tcokaev.

At 61kg, Zavur UGUEV (UWW) defended his 61kg gold medal with rather ease and became a two-time European champion. He defeated former world champion and home-favorite Zelimkhan ABAKAROV (ALB), 4-0, in the final.

RESULTS

61kg
GOLD: Zavur UGUEV (UWW) df. Zelimkhan ABAKAROV (ALB), 4-0

BRONZE: Arsen HARUTYUNYAN (ARM) df. Dzmitry SHAMELA (UWW), 7-3
BRONZE: Simone PIRODDU (ITA) df. Nuraddin NOVRUZOV (AZE), via fall (11-8)

74kg
GOLD: Taimuraz SALKAZANOV (SVK) df. Turan BAYRAMOV (AZE), 4-2

BRONZE: Timur BIZHOEV (UWW) df. Murad KURAMAGOMEDOV (HUN), 2-1
BRONZE: Farhad NOURIKHORJESTAN (UWW) df. Giorgi ELBAKIDZE (GEO), 10-8

86kg
GOLD: Ibragim KADIEV (UWW) df. Arsenii DZHIOEV (AZE), 2-1

BRONZE: Vladimeri GAMKRELIDZE (GEO) df. Osman GOCEN (TUR), 8-3
BRONZE: Eugeniu MIHALCEAN (MDA) df. Ivars SAMUSONOKS (LAT), 7-2

92kg
GOLD: Ali TCOKAEV (AZE) df. Ahmed BATAEV (BUL), 5-3

BRONZE: Amanula GADZHIMAGOMEDOV (UWW) df. Fatih ALTUNBAS (TUR), 7-4
BRONZE: Miriani MAISURADZE (GEO) df. Samuel SCHERRER (SUI), 4-0

125kg
GOLD: Giorgi MESHVILDISHVILI (AZE) df. Vladislav BAJCAJEV (HUN), 8-0

BRONZE: Hakan BUYUKCINGIL (TUR) df. Khachatur KHACHATRYAN (ARM), 6-2
BRONZE: Mohsen SIYAR (GER) df. Azamat KHOSONOV (GRE), 2-1

Iran survives Uzbekistan scare to win Greco title at U17 Worlds

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Salkazanov Reclaims 74kg Gold for Fifth European Title