Iran wins three Greco-Roman golds in Amman

Saturday, August 19, 2023 - 17:40 By Vinay Siwach

AMMAN, Jordan (August 19) -- A technical superiority, a defensive masterclass and a power show. Iran wrestlers have made a habit of clinching the Greco-Roman team title early at most World Championships and the U20 World Championships in Amman, Jordan was no different as Iran, with its three golds, all but locked up the title.

After sweeping the Freestyle team title earlier this week, Iran got going in Greco-Roman adding 105 points after five weight classes and steering clear of other countries for the team title.

Ahmadreza MOHSEN NEZHAD (IRI) scores a takedown against Zhantoro MIRZALIEV (KGZ) in the 63kg final. (Photo: UWW / Kostadin Andonov)

The gold rush was led by rising start Ahmadreza MOHSEN NEHZAD (IRI) at 63kg. He wrestled 2022 U17 Asian champion Zhantoro MIRZALIEV (KGZ) in the gold medal bout and came out 9-0 on top.

The technical superiority in the final by Mohsen Nehzad was set up on the basis of an aggressive show by Ahmadreza. Mirzaliev was put in par terre and the Iranian got one turn to lead 3-0. He scored a stepout to lead extend his lead to 4-0 at the break.

Mirzaliev would have hoped to get an advantage of par terre in the second period but in a rare case, Ahmadreza got the second par terre position. On this occasion, Ahmadreza got two gut-wrenches to finish the bout 9-0.

One can be forgiven for mistaken identity as a glance at Ahmadreza would remind them of multiple-time Asian and U23 world medalist Mehdi MOHSEN NEJAD (IRI), Ahmadreza's elder brother.

The Mohsen Nejad family hails from Kuzestan, Iran and all four siblings are wrestlers. Apart from Mehdi and Ahmadreza, Emarreza and Yasin are also Greco-Roman wrestlers with the former being the U15 Asian champion at 68kg.

As far as world events go, Ahmadreza has already bettered his brother Mehdi's position. Mehdi finished fifth at the 2016 U20 Worlds but Ahmadreza has won gold in his first World Championships experience.

Alireza ABDEVALI (IRI) and Alexandru SOLOVEI (MDA) battle it out in the 77kg final. (Photo: UWW / Amirreza Aliasgari)

After completing his final, Ahmadreza took to cheering for Alireza ABDEVALI (IRI) against returning silver medalist Alexandru SOLOVEI (MDA) in the 77kg final. Abdevali, one of the seven siblings, denied Solovei a chance to create history for Moldova, beating him 1-1 in the 77kg final.

Solovei was hoping to become Moldova's first U20 world champion in Greco-Roman but for the second straight year, he will have to be satisfied with a silver medal. Abdevali and Solovei exchanged activity points in the final with Abdevali holding the criteria and despite his best efforts, Solovei failed to score the point needed to win.

By winning the final, Abdevali also avenged his 2021 U17 World Championships final's loss to Solovei. That was also a similar final in which the criteria was with Solovei, giving the Moldovan a gold medal.

Fardin HEDAYATI (IRI) defeated Wenhao JIANG (CHN) in the 130kg. (Photo: UWW / Kostadin Andonov)

The focus then turned to Fardin HEDAYATI (IRI) as he wrestled for the 130kg gold for the second straight year. He suffered a heartbreaking loss in Sofia last year but Hedayati made amends and won the gold medal via technical superiority.

It was in Amman a month ago that Hedayati rocked Wenhao JIANG (CHN) 11-1 in the 130kg final of the U20 Asian Championships. Jiang was hoping to at least close the gap but there was no change in the result as Hedayati beat Jiang 8-0 and put behind the disappointment from last year. Hedayati scored four steptous and two takedowns in the 8-0 win over Jiang.

"I’m glad that I was able to change the silver I won in Sofia to gold in Amman and make my people happy," Hedayati said. "I won all the bouts with excellent scores and became the world champion without giving a single score."

In his four bouts in Amman, Hedayati outscored his opponents 32-0 which also means that he was not in par terre for being passive even once. For the final, Hedayati was aware of Jiang's style which made it easier for him to prepare for the gold medal bout.

"I wrestled with him in the finals of the U20 Asian Championships and won 11-1," he said. "I was able to defeat him in less than three minutes with a score of 8-0. Jiang is a good wrestler as well."

Back home in Iran, the 130kg weight class is dominated by world silver medalist Amin MIRZAZADEH (IRI). But Hedayati, who hails from the Freestyle hub of Mazandaran, is open to have a go at any wrestler.

"I have very good opponents in Iran including Amin Mirzazadeh and other dear friends," he said. "I respect all of them. I’m doing my best to be a good representative for my country in the 2024 Olympics. I want to become a champion in Paris and having good opponents motivates me to increase my training and be able to pass these champions and reach the top of an Olympics."

The throw that gave Achiko BOLKVADZE (GEO) a win over Ali CHOUBANI (IRI). (Photo: UWW / Amirreza Aliasgari)

Iran could have had another gold medalist if Ali CHOUBANI (IRI) had found a way to beat Achiko BOLKVADZE (GEO) in the 87kg final.

Last year, Choubani suffered a dramatic 2-1 final's loss at the 2022 U20 World Championships but Achiko BOLKVADZE (GEO) added insult to injury as he scored two points via correct throw on third passivity to take a 3-1 lead. Choubani could not score the takedown needed to win the gold medal and for the second successive year, he will go home with a silver medal.

After exchanging activity points, Choubani had the criteria but the referees called him inactive. Bolkvadze asked for par terre and got the lift but Choubani stood his ground. From the bear-hug, Bolkvade managed to implement a correct throw to get two points. Iran challenged the call but lost on review.

As Bolkvadze celebrated his exception win, Choubani lay on may in disbelief after losing the final for the second straight year.

The fifth gold medal on Saturday was won by Iskhar KURBAYEV (KAZ) who defeated Farid SADIKHLI (AZE), 5-1, in the 55kg final. This was Kazakhstan's first gold medal in Greco-Roman at U20 Worlds in seven years.

RESULTS

55kg
GOLD: Iskhar KURBAYEV (KAZ) df. Farid SADIKHLI (AZE), 5-1

BRONZE: Nuristan SUIORKULOV (KGZ) df. Emre MUTLU (TUR), 2-1
BRONZE: Alisher GANIEV (UZB) df. Ali AHMADI VAFA (IRI), 9-0

63kg
GOLD: Ahmadreza MOHSEN NEZHAD (IRI) df. Zhantoro MIRZALIEV (KGZ), 9-0

BRONZE: Dinislam SAGITZHAN (KAZ) df. Landon DRURY (USA), 9-0
BRONZE: Komei SAWADA (JPN) df. SANDEEP (IND), 4-0

77kg
GOLD: Alireza ABDEVALI (IRI) df. Alexandru SOLOVEI (MDA), 1-1

BRONZE: Deepak PUNIA (IND) df. Tornike MIKELADZE (GEO), 4-2
BRONZE: Abdulmasih ABDULMASIH (AIN) df. Erlan MARS UULU (KGZ), 11-2

87kg
GOLD: Achiko BOLKVADZE (GEO) df. Abolfazl CHOUBANI (IRI), 4-1

BRONZE: Asan ZHANYSHOV (KGZ) df. Tourpal MAGAMADOV (FRA), 13-4
BRONZE: Vigen NAZARYAN (ARM) df. Wyatt VOELKER (USA), 7-0

130kg
GOLD: Fardin HEDAYATI (IRI) df. Wenhao JIANG (CHN), 8-0

BRONZE: Achilleas CHRYSIDIS (GRE) df. Aleksandr MELEKHOV (AIN), 5-0
BRONZE: Fekry EISSA (EGY) df. Talip CIFTCI (TUR), 3-2

GR Semifinals

60kg
GOLD: SUMIT (IND) vs. Suren AGHAJANYAN (ARM)

SF 1: SUMIT (IND) df. Amirreza DEHBOZORGI (IRI), 10-0
SF 2: Suren AGHAJANYAN (ARM) df. Emirlan DUISHENALIEV (KGZ),

67kg
GOLD: Moustafa ALAMELDIN (EGY) vs. Gaspar TERTERYAN (ARM)

SF 1: Moustafa ALAMELDIN (EGY) df. Ahoura BOUVEIRI PIANI (IRI), 9-4
SF 2: Gaspar TERTERYAN (ARM) df. Nestori MANNILA (FIN), 5-2

72kg
GOLD: Imran ALIEV (AIN) vs. Levente LEVAI (HUN)

SF 1: Imran ALIEV (AIN) df. Anri PUTKARADZE (GEO), 9-0
SF 2: Levente LEVAI (HUN) df. Aaron BELLSCHEIDT (GER), 5-1

82kg
GOLD: Alperen BERBER (TUR) vs. Yasin YAZDI (IRI)

SF 1: Alperen BERBER (TUR) df. Data CHKHAIDZE (GEO), 8-0
SF 2: Yasin YAZDI (IRI) df. Ruben GEVORGYAN (ARM), 4-0

97kg
GOLD: Abubakar KHASLAKHANAU (AIN) vs. Gor AYVAZYAN (GEO)

SF 1: Abubakar KHASLAKHANAU (AIN) df. Kevin USPENSKI (EST), 14-4
SF 2: Gor AYVAZYAN (GEO) df. Rostislav COVALI (MDA), 3-1

#WrestleZagreb

Kusaka earns shot at world title; Iran puts 3 in final

Thursday, September 18, 2025 - 15:57 By Vinay Siwach

ZAGREB, Croatia (September 18) -- Olympic champion Nao KUSAKA (JPN) is a step away from winning his first world title.

After finishing with a bronze medal at the 2023 World Championships at 77kg, Kusaka went on to win the 2024 Paris Olympic Games at the same weight. The Olympic champion now wants the tag of world champion.

Returning for the first time since Paris, Kusaka wrestled like is the Olympic champion, beating Robert FRITSCH (HUN), 3-1, in the semifinals. He scored a takedown to open the scoring before getting the par terre advantage. He failed to score but led 3-0. Fritsch was in danger of giving up a four-pointer but he flung Kusaka on counter for a point to make it 3-1.

There was no action in the second period and Kusaka defended his lead till the time expired to earn his first trip to the finals at a World Championships.

"Like at the Olympics, you can't predict what will happen. But a year after the Olympics, I want to show my strength to the world again," Yoshida said after the win. " I always worked out with him, so we know each other well. But to me, it didn't matter if he had a strategy or not."

Earlier in the quarterfinals, he defeated Olympic silver medalist Demeu ZHADRAYEV (KAZ), 4-2, in a rematch of the Olympic final. Kusaka had to come back as he was down 2-2 on criteria as Zhadrayev launched a counter throw for two points. But Kusaka added two stepouts in the second period to win 4-2.

He will now face Olympic bronze medalist Malkhas AMOYAN (ARM) for the gold medal after the Armenian defeated world U20 champion Alireza ABDEVALI (IRI) in a one-move semifinal.

Amoyan got the first chance in par terre and he loaded for a suplex on the edge. Abdevali was ready to land on his hands but Amoyan changed his throw and slammed the Iranian in a reverse throw for four and lead 5-0.

Abdevali failed to score from par terre in the second period and dropped the semifinal 5-1 against Amoyan.

Despite Abdevali's loss, Iran managed three other wrestlers in the finals with world champion Amin MIRZAZADEH (IRI) leading the way. Two World Championships debutants, Payam AHMADI (IRI) and Gholamreza FAROKHI (IRI) reached the finals at 55kg and 82kg, respectively.

At 130kg, world champion Mirzazadeh had no trouble reaching the final after he defeated Wenhao JIANG (CHN), 3-1, in the semifinals. He got a roll from par terre for two points and despite par terre position in the second period, he won 3-1.

He will face a surprise finalist Darius VITEK (HUN) who denied Pavel HLINCHUK (UWW), 1-1, as he got the criteria for the first point in a 1-1 finish.

Farokhi, who won the Zagreb Open this year, powered his way to the 82kg final after denying local star Karlo KODRIC (CRO), 7-1, in the semifinals. Farokhi led 3-1 at the break after a takedown. He scored another as soon as the second period began before adding two stepouts to win.

He will face Gela BOLKVADZE (GEO) for the gold medal after the Georgian denied Taizo YOSHIDA (JPN) yet another comeback as he had all day on Thursday. Yoshida began with two stepouts before getting the par terre. He failed to score any points but led 3-0 at the break.

It was all Bolkvadze in the second period as he scored three turns from par terre to take a 7-3 lead. Japan challenged the last turn saying that Yoshida's head was out of bounds before last turn. However, the review showed that it was inside and Bolkvadze got a point for the lost challenge to make it 8-3 with 1:10 remaining.

Yoshida used an arm drag to takedown and make it 8-5 but he did not have any another action and Georgia got its second finalist of the night.

Ahmadi upsets Azizli

Iran's gamble to switch Pouya DAD MARZ (IRI) with world U20 champion Payam AHMADI (IRI) a week before the World Championships paid off as he denied four-time world champion Eldaniz AZIZLI (AZE) a record fifth at 55kg.

Ahmadi was subjected to a selection bout against Dad Marz in Iran and he defeated the former world silver medalist with ease thus earning a trip to Zagreb a month after winning the gold at the U20 World Championships.

In the semifinals, Ahmadi got a takedown to put Azizli on the backfoot. He was awarded the par terre position as well but failed to score. However, he led 3-0 at the break. Azizli got his chance in the second period but Ahmadi brought out his top defense to not give up any points and keep his 3-1 lead, a score he went on to win with.

He will face another teenager for the gold medal, Vakhtang LOLUA (GEO), who defeated Emin CAKIR (TUR), 2-2, on last point criteria to earn a spot in the final.

Lolua, just 18 years of age, won a bronze medal at 55kg at the U20 World Championships in which Ahmadi was the champion. Lolua and Cakir traded passivity points with the latter holding first-point criteria. Lolua got a third passivity which is without points and only position, but he failed to score from that as well. Georgia challenged for a leg-foul but there was none.

Cakir got a point for lost challenge from Georgia which made it 2-1 with 40 seconds left. However, Lolua got a stepout soon after and got the 2-2 criteria for the last point scored to win.

RESULTS

55kg
GOLD: Payam AHMADI (IRI) vs. Vakhtang LOLUA (GEO)

SF 1: Payam AHMADI (IRI) df. Eldaniz AZIZLI (AZE), 3-1
SF 2: Vakhtang LOLUA (GEO) df. Emin CAKIR (TUR), 2-2

77kg
GOLD: Nao KUSAKA (JPN) vs. Malkhas AMOYAN (ARM)

SF 1: Nao KUSAKA (JPN) df. Robert FRITSCH (HUN), 3-1
SF 2: Malkhas AMOYAN (ARM) df. Alireza ABDEVALI (IRI), 5-1

82kg
GOLD: Gholamreza FAROKHI (IRI) vs. Gela BOLKVADZE (GEO)

BRONZE: Gela BOLKVADZE (GEO) df. Taizo YOSHIDA (JPN), 8-5
BRONZE: Gholamreza FAROKHI (IRI) df. Karlo KODRIC (CRO), 7-1

130kg
GOLD: Amin MIRZAZADEH (IRI) vs. Darius VITEK (HUN)

SF 1: Amin MIRZAZADEH (IRI) df. Wenhao JIANG (CHN), 3-1
SF 2: Darius VITEK (HUN) df. Pavel HLINCHUK (UWW), 1-1

Iran wins three Greco-Roman golds in Amman

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Kusaka earns shot at world title; Iran puts 3 in final