#WrestleOlegKaravaev

Kus and Sasunouski to Square off Saturday Night in Top-Four Matchup

By Eric Olanowski

MINSK, Belarus (July 26) --- Top-ranked Emrah KUS (TUR) capped off the opening day of wrestling at the Oleg Karavaev with a trio of wins and will square off with fourth-ranked Viktar SASUNOUSKI (BLR) in the 82kg finals. 

Kus kick-started his day with a 6-2 win over Marad HUSEINAU (BLR), then followed that up with an 8-0 routing of Jalgasbay BERDIMURATOV (UZB) to set up a semifinals match with Bilan NALGIEV (UZB). The Uzbek had a 1-0 lead over the reigning world runner-up but an inactivity point and a front head pinch earned Kus the 3-1 victory. 

He’ll meet Belarus’ fourth-ranked Viktar Sasunouski for the gold medal. The Belarusian trailed 3-1 late into the second period but slipped his way into a side head lock -- picking up four points and the 5-3 lead. He later tacked on two additional points for a correct throw and won, 7-3. 

Meanwhile, Shinobu OTA (JPN) fell behind 8-3 in his 63kg semifinal bout against Mirambek AINAGULOV (KAZ) but scored six unanswered points and locked up his spot in the Oleg Karavaev finals with the 9-8 come-from-behind victory. 

Ota, the Rio Olympic runner-up, will see Islomjon BAKHRAMOV (UZB) in the gold-medal bout. 

Bakhramov, the 15th-ranked wrestler in the world down at 55kg, bumped up to 60kg and knocked off reigning world bronze medalist WALIHAN Sailike (CHN), 3-3 after trailing by three points heading into the closing three minutes. 

RESULTS

63kg 
GOLD - Islomjon BAKHRAMOV (UZB) vs. Shinobu OTA (JPN)
SEMIFINAL - Islomjon BAKHRAMOV (UZB) df. Sailike WALIHAN (CHN), 3-3  
SEMIFINAL - Shinobu OTA (JPN) df. Mirambek AINAGULOV (KAZ), 9-8

72kg
GOLD - Magomed YARBILOV (RUS) vs. Narek OGANIAN (RUS)
SEMIFINAL - Narek OGANIAN (RUS) df. Meiirzhan SHERMAKHANBET (KAZ), 5-2 
SEMIFINAL - Magomed YARBILOV (RUS) df. Uladzislau MANKEVICH (BLR), 8-0 

82g
GOLD - Emrah KUS (TUR) vs. Viktar SASUNOUSKI (BLR)
SEMIFINAL - Emrah KUS (TUR) df. Bilan NALGIEV (UZB), 3-1  
SEMIFINAL - Viktar SASUNOUSKI (BLR) df. Milad ALIRZAEV (RUS), 7-3

97kg 
GOLD - Siarhei STARADUB (BLR) vs. Suleyman DEMIRCI (TUR)
SEMIFINAL - Siarhei STARADUB (BLR) df. Yerulan ISKAKOV (KAZ), 4-0 
SEMIFINAL - Suleyman DEMIRCI (TUR) df. Fatih BASKOY (TUR), 2-1 

#development

Introduction to Referee Course held prior to Druskininkai Cup

By United World Wrestling Press

Druskininkai, LTU (26 August) – The Lithuanian Wrestling Federation organized an Introduction to Referee Course (Level 1) from 14-16 August.  The course was done in conjunction with United World Wrestling and was held before the start of the Druskininkai Cup. The course was led by UWW Certified Educators Ms. Edit DOZSA (ITA). 

There were 11 referees that participated in the course. During the 3-day course, the participants had theoretical and practical sessions to improve their knowledge and skills as referees.  Some of the topics covered were terminology for referees, referee team duties, evaluation of holds, and athlete safeguarding. “Despite some difficulty in language, all the participants finished the course with a renewed knowledge base," said Dozsa. "It was great to work with the referees during the course.”