#wrestlebishkek

Kyrgyzstan basks in wrestlers' golden glory

Sunday, June 4, 2023 - 21:55 By Vinay Siwach

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BISHKEK, Kyrgyzstan (June 4) -- Kyrgyzstan once again reminded the world that it is a strong freestyle nation by clinching three gold medals on day four of the Bishkek Ranking Series. Moreover, world bronze medalist Ernazar AKMATALIEV (KGZ) was not one of them.

Asian silver medalist Almaz SMANBEKOV (KGZ) won at 57kg, Asian champion Taiyrbek ZHUMASHBEK UULU (KGZ) won gold at 61kg and Orozobek TOKTOMAMBETOV (KGZ) became the champion at 70kg on the final day of the competition.

Smanbekov began with a 3-1 win over Wanhao ZOU (CHN) in the quarterfinals before beating Beka BUJIASHVILI (GEO), 4-2, in the semifinals to enter the final against fellow Kyrgyzstan wrestler Bekzat ALMAZ UULU (KGZ).

A big arm-throw was the highlight of the match for Smanbekov who managed to win the gold after a 6-1 victory in front of a loud home crowd.

The ever-improving Zhumashbek Uulu survived a scare as he won 5-5 against Emrah ORMANOGLU (TUR) in the quarterfinals after getting a walkover by Ravi KUMAR (IND) who pulled out due to a knee injury. He managed to beat PANKAJ (IND) 7-0 in the semifinals before facing Shota PHARTENADZE (GEO) in the final.

Zhumashbek Uulu gave little to Phartenadze and managed to win the gold after an 8-2 victory at 61kg.

Though it was not Akmataliev, the 70kg gold medal went to Kyrgyzstan. Toktomambetov stepped up when Akmataliev lost 11-6 in the semifinal against Syrbaz TALGAT (KGZ).

Toktomambetov began with a strong win over Servet COSKUN (TUR) in the opening round and faced Orts ISAKOV (JOR) in the quarterfinals and won 11-0. Against Mulaym YADAV (IND) in the semifinals, Toktomambetov managed to fina way and win 7-1.

In the final, Toktomambekov was up against Talgat and wrestled one of his toughest match of the tournament. After six minutes, Toktomambetov won 3-2 and the gold medal.

At 65kg, Tulga TUMUR-OCHIR (MGL) captured his third straight Ranking Series gold medal after beating Alibek OSMONOV (KGZ), 5-2.

As usual, Tumur Ochir began with his underhooks and pressured his opponents before scoring the points. He started with a 4-0 win over Abdulmazhid KUDIEV (TJK) followed by a humdinger against Umidjon JALOLOV (UZB) which the Mongolian won 6-5.

The semifinals saw him beat Meirzhan ASHIROV (KAZ) 8-4 and he step up a clash against Alibek OSMONOV (KGZ). He used his underhook but Osmonov was quick to defend it. But it wasn't long before Tumur Ochir returned to his preferred attack and after six minutes, he managed to win 8-4.

Vladimeri GAMKRELIDZE (GEO) was one of the two Georgians who claimed gold medals on Sunday.

The U23 world champion claimed the gold medal at 79kg by beating Myrza ZHYRGALBEK UULU (KGZ) 11-0 and Zhiger ZAKIROV (KAZ) 9-1. He then faced Khidir SAIPUDINOV (BRN) in the final and managed to stop Saipudinov from any attacks and won a tense final 3-2 to be crowned champion.

The second Georgian was world bronze medalist Miriani MAISURADZE (GEO) who launched Gankhuyag GANBAATAR (MGL) for a big throw which proved to be the difference between the two wrestlers.

Bayramov closer to Belgrade spot

Azerbaijan, for the second straight year, is trying to find the best combination for the all-important World Championships in a Ranking Series. For the same, three wrestlers were entered at 74kg in Bishkek. And for the second straight year, Turan BAYRAMOV (AZE) defeated Dzhabrail GADZHIEV (AZE).

Last year in Rome, Bayramov stopped Gadzhiev and repeated it Sunday as he held off the former 2-1 in a classic Bayramov bout.

 

Gadzhiev tried all his might to beat Bayramov but he failed to find the attack that could have helped him overcome the defensive challenge that Bayramov brings.
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RESULTS

57kg
GOLD: Almaz SMANBEKOV (KGZ) df. Bekzat ALMAZ UULU (KGZ), 6-1

BRONZE: Wanhao ZOU (CHN) df. Beka BUJIASHVILI (GEO), 7-0
BRONZE: Meirambek KARTBAY (KAZ) df. Nodirjon SAFAROV (UZB), 12-6

61kg
GOLD: Taiyrbek ZHUMASHBEK UULU (KGZ) df. Shota PHARTENADZE (GEO), 8-2

BRONZE: Abdymalik KARACHOV (KGZ) df. Sardor RUZIMOV (UZB), via fall
BRONZE: Emrah ORMANOGLU (TUR) df. PANKAJ (IND), 6-1

65kg
GOLD: Tulga TUMUR OCHIR (MGL) df. Alibek OSMONOV (KGZ), 5-2

BRONZE: Ikromzhon KHADZHIMURODOV (KGZ) df. Agustin DESTRIBATS (ARG), 8-2
BRONZE: Abdulmazhid KUDIEV (TJK) df. Meirzhan ASHIROV (KAZ), 10-0

70kg
GOLD: Orozobek TOKTOMAMBETOV (KGZ) df. Syrbaz TALGAT (KAZ), 3-2

BRONZE: Ernazar AKMATALIEV (KGZ) df. Giorgi ELBAKIDZE (GEO), 9-0
BRONZE: Servet COSKUN (TUR) df. Mulaym YADAV (IND), 6-6

74kg
GOLD: Turan BAYRAMOV (AZE) df. Dzhabrail GADZHIEV (AZE), 2-1

BRONZE: Magomet EVLOEV (TJK) df. Otari BAGAURI (GEO), via fall
BRONZE: Khadzhimurad GADZHIYEV (AZE) df. Soner DEMIRTAS (TUR), 12-7

79kg
GOLD:  Vladimeri GAMKRELIDZE (GEO) df. Khidir SAIPUDINOV (BRN), 3-2

BRONZE: Adilet MARATBAEV (KGZ) df. Bibarys NURYLLAULY (KAZ), 10-7
BRONZE: Zhiger ZAKIROV (KAZ) df. Myrza ZHYRGALBEK UULU (KGZ), 11-0

86kg
GOLD: Magomed SHARIPOV (BRN) df. Abubakr ABAKAROV (AZE), via inj. def.

BRONZE: Azamat DAULETBEKOV (KAZ) df. Nurtilek KARYPBAEV (KGZ), 6-0
BRONZE: Javrail SHAPIEV (UZB) df. Tariel GAPHRINDASHVILI (GEO), 10-9

92kg
GOLD: Miriani MAISURADZE (GEO) df. Gankhuyag GANBAATAR (MGL), 6-1

BRONZE: Jumabayi AERGEN (CHN) df. Abdimanap BAIGENZHEYEV (KAZ), 2-0
BRONZE: Andro MARGISHVILI (GEO) df. Nurdaulet BEKENOV (KAZ), 6-2

#WrestlePontevedra

U20 Worlds: Iran shines, U.S. surprises in Greco-Roman on Day 1

Monday, September 2, 2024 - 17:46 By Vinay Siwach

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PONTEVEDRA, Spain (September 2) -- Seven years after it crowned a world champion at U20 level, the United States will have a chance to end that drought on Tuesday.

Two wrestlers, Isaiah CORTEZ (USA) and Otto BLACK (USA), reached the finals of 55kg and 63kg in Greco-Roman at the U20 World Championships which kicked off in Pontevedra, Spain on Monday. Kamal BEY (USA) won the gold medal in 2017 at 74kg and since then the U.S. has been looking for a world champion. It was also the last time the U.S. had two wrestlers in the final.

Cortez had three back-and-forth bouts in the morning session but was at his best in the semifinal against Aibek AITBEKOV (KAZ). He took the par terre position in the first period and finished the bout 9-0 after getting four turns over Aitbekov using the trap-arm.

In his earlier bouts, Cortez pulled off a 9-8 win against Anil MOR (IND), and defeated Peter TOTOK (HUN) 7-4 before going past Maxim SARMANOV (MDA) 9-6.

He will wrestle former U17 world champion Ali AHMADI VAFA (IRI) for the gold medal. Ahmadi Vafa overcame Alibek AMIROV (AIN), 6-3, in the other semifinal at 55kg.

Black took out Yurik HOVEYAN (ARM) in the semifinal at 63kg after battling hard to keep his 3-2 lead. Hoveyan tried jumping over Black to get a four-pointer but Black defended it and slammed Hoveyan on the mat for four points to win 7-2.

For the gold, he will face Erzu ZAKRIEV (AIN) who had to win the semifinal twice. Zakriev pinned Anri KHOZREVANIDZE (GEO) very early in the semifinal but Georgia challenged and won as Khozrevanidze's head was outside the zone when Zakriev was trying to pin him.

Khozrevanidze used his second life in the bout to perform a headlock and got four points. However, Zakriev avoided any fall position and reversed the position and turned Khozrevanidze three times. After a challenge and consultations from referees, Zakriev led the bout 11-4.

He scored four points using a big throw and a lost challenge from Georgia gave him another point as he won 16-4.

Alireza ABDEVALI (IRI)Alireza ABDEVALI (IRI) will wrestle for the 77kg gold medal. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kadir Caliskan)

Iran had two other finalists, taking the total to three. Alireza ABDEVALI (IRI) scored a controlled 3-1 win over Tornike MIKELADZE (GEO) at 77kg and will take on Magomed IARBILOV (AIN) for the gold. Iarbilov defeated Irfan MIRZOIEV (UKR), 6-4, in the other semifinal.

At 130kg, Abolfazl FATHITAZANGI (IRI) joined a long list of top Iranian super heavyweights in Greco-Roman as he reached the final after beating Aramayis HARUTYUNYAN (ARM) 2-1 in the semifinal. He scored a takedown against Harutyunyan's point for forced par terre.

For the gold medal, he will face former U17 world champion Laszlo DARABOS (HUN) who won 3-1 against Aleksandr MELEKHOV (AIN) in the other semifinal.

Asan ZHANYSHOV (KGZ)Asan ZHANYSHOV (KGZ) defeated returning champion Achiko BOLKVADZE (GEO) at 87kg. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Jake Kirkman)

Kyrgyzstan, a country that has grown leaps and bounds in wrestling over the last decade, sent one wrestler in the final. Asan ZHANYSHOV (KGZ) had an epic run at 87kg to reach the final. In the semifinal, he took less than two minutes to beat Patrik GORDAN (ROU) 8-0.

Joju SAMADOV (AZE) will look to stop him from becoming Kyrgyzstan's first U20 world champion in Greco-Roman since 2018. Samadov had a close semifinal against Temirlan TURDAKYN (KAZ) but managed to win 4-2.

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RESULTS

55kg
GOLD: Isaiah CORTEZ (USA) vs. Ali AHMADI VAFA (IRI)

SF 1: Isaiah CORTEZ (USA) df. Aibek AITBEKOV (KAZ), 9-0
SF 2: Ali AHMADI VAFA (IRI) df. Alibek AMIROV (AIN), 6-3 

63kg
GOLD: Erzu ZAKRIEV (AIN) vs. Otto BLACK (USA)

SF 1: Erzu ZAKRIEV (AIN) df. Anri KHOZREVANIDZE (GEO), 16-4
SF 2: Otto BLACK (USA) df. Yurik HOVEYAN (ARM), 7-2

77kg
GOLD: Magomed IARBILOV (AIN) vs. Alireza ABDEVALI (IRI)

SF 1: Magomed IARBILOV (AIN) df. Irfan MIRZOIEV (UKR), 6-4
SF 2: Alireza ABDEVALI (IRI) df. Tornike MIKELADZE (GEO), 3-1

87kg
GOLD: Asan ZHANYSHOV (KGZ) vs. Joju SAMADOV (AZE)

SF 1: Asan ZHANYSHOV (KGZ) df. Patrik GORDAN (ROU), 8-0
SF 2: Joju SAMADOV (AZE) df. Temirlan TURDAKYN (KAZ), 4-2

130kg
GOLD: Laszlo DARABOS (HUN) vs. Abolfazl FATHITAZANGI (IRI)

SF 1: Laszlo DARABOS (HUN) df. Aleksandr MELEKHOV (AIN), 3-1
SF 2: Abolfazl FATHITAZANGI (IRI) df. Aramayis HARUTYUNYAN (ARM), 2-1