#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 

#UnitedWorldWrestling

Lalovic awarded 'Dustlik' Order by Uzbekistan

By United World Wrestling Press

TASHKENT, Uzbekistan (October 14) -- United World Wrestling President Nenad LALOVIC was awarded the Dustlik Order by President of Uzbekistan Shavkat MIRZIYOYEV on Monday in the Uzbekistan capital.

Lalovic was on an official visit to Uzbekistan and was awarded the order for significant contribution to the development of mass sports and support for martial arts in Uzbekistan.

During the meeting, Lalovic and Mirziyoyev also discussed increasing co-operation between UWW and Uzbekistan, providing expert support and promoting sports in the country, mainly wrestling, Kurash, and Mixed Martial Arts.

Uzbekistan, a country with rich history of wrestling, has seen exceptional results recently with its Greco-Roman team finishing inside top three in the world at various World Championships. It also won the Freestyle 74kg gold medal at the Paris Olympics through Razambek JAMALOV (UZB) who ended the 20-year drought for gold. 

The recent success was also a point of discussion during the meeting in Tashkent with Mirziyoyev briefing Lalovic about Uzbekistan's success.

According to Uzbekistan media, the discussions were also around hosting major continental and world championships in Uzbekistan, establishing a Regional Wrestling Academy under UWW and partnership opportunities in sports medicine, nutrition, psychology, and other priority areas.