#WrestleAlmaty

Live Blog: Bolat Turlykhanov Cup day two

By Vinay Siwach

ALMATY, Kazakhstan (June 3) -- The second day of the Bolat Turlykhanov Cup Ranking Series event will see three Greco-Roman and four women's wrestling weight classes in action.

World and Olympic champion Mohammadreza GERAEI (IRI), Akzhol MAKHMUDOV (KGZ) and Burhan AKBUDAK (TUR) will be in action for the day.

WATCH LIVE | MATCH ORDER

13:45: A rematch that Mohammadreza GERAEI (IRI) wanted. He wins his semifinal to get a chance to avenge his loss against Meiirzhan SHERMAKHANBET (KAZ). The two will clash in the 72kg final. Shermakhanbet won the earlier bout 7-3

13:30: As expected, the final at 76kg for women's is set between two World bronze medalists Samar HAMZA (EGY) and Aiperi MEDET KYZY (KGZ)

13:22: They clashed in the group stage and now Emma TISSINA (KAZ) and Mansi AHLAWAT (IND) will clash for the gold medal at 57kg. Ahlawat had defeated Tissina 6-0 in the group stage.

13:15: Akzhol MAKHMUDOV (KGZ) beats Tornike DZAMASHVILI (GEO) 4-1 while Pejman POSHTAM (IRI) defeats Shamil BATYROV (KAZ) 10-1 as the two set up  the 82kg final

13:00: Demeu ZHADRAYEV (KAZ) with a strong win over Asian champion Mohammad Reza MOKHTARI (IRI). Zhadrayev was trailing 2-0 at the break but got the activity points and then a turn in par terre. Mokhtari was was penalized for defending before the whitsle. A 5-2 win for Zhadrayev

12:35: No successful comeback this time for Mohammadreza GERAEI (IRI). Asian champion Meiirzhan SHERMAKHANBET (KAZ) scored seven points in the first period while Geraei managed only 3 in the second

12:00: Samar HAMZA (EGY) wins her first bout over Pooja SIHAG (IND). She gets the takedown and then turns Sihag twice using the leg-turk. Hamza finishes it with a 10-0 win. 

11:35: Divya KAKRAN (IND) has been in and out of the national team but she marks her return to 68kg with two quick falls in two bouts. Another win will secure her the gold medal

11:10: Demeu ZHADRAYEV (KAZ) has handed Yunus BASAR (TUR) an early loss at 77kg. After exchanging passivity points, Zhadrayev managed to score an out-of-bounds against Basar to win 2-1

11:00: 'The Iceman' Mohammadreza GERAEI (IRI) trailed Azat SADYKOV (KAZ) for four minutes but then goes for a body lock and secures the pin at 72kg. Effortless from the Olympia champion

10:50: Tokyo silver medalist Azkhol MAKHMUDOV (KGZ) led 4-3 at the break against Burhan AKBUDAK (TUR) before adding a point in the second period to extend his lead to 5-3. Akbudak scored a stepout with two seconds remaining and got another point as Makhmudov was warned for fleeing. But Makhmudov holds on for 5-5 criteria win over the world silver medalist

10:30: Welcome to the second day of the second Ranking Series event of the year. A big day is coming up and the first high octane bout at 82kg as Akzhol MAKHMUDOV (KGZ) and Burhan AKBUDAK (TUR) clash.

Development

Saudi Wrestling Federation growing wrestling through education

By United World Wrestling Press

RIYADH, Saudi Arabia (12 October) – The Saudi Wrestling Federation has been organizing coaching and referee courses to grow and develop wrestling within their country over the past few years. Their hard work led to their first-ever silver medal at the U20 Asian Championships. Manthr Jndu achieved this at 63kg in Greco-Roman.

In late April, they organized two more courses (Level 1 Coaching Course and Introduction to Refereeing Course) for new coaches and referees. The Saudi Wrestling Federation held these courses in partnership with United World Wrestling.  

Mr. Hassan MADANY (EGY) and Mr. Juan Luis MAREN (CUB) conducted the Level 1 Coaching Course, and Mr. Sherif HALAWA (EGY) and Mr. Mohsen YAMANI (KSA—Chief of Saudi Referees) led the Introduction to Refereeing course. The courses were held from 28 April to 2 May and included 91 participants (22 women) from 8 nationalities, including participants from EGY, MAR, SYR, SUD, NGR, JOR, KGZ, and KSA residing in Saudi Arabia.

The coaching course had 71 participants, including 17 women coaches. The Level 1 Course is the Introduction to Coaching and Safety. During the course, the participants participated in theoretical and practical sessions. Some of the topics covered were discovery games, introducing a new technique, coaching skills, giving feedback, risk management, age, and developmental stage characteristics.  The coaches actively practiced and developed their skills during the course through practical evaluations. Overall, the coaches gained important knowledge and skills to help them improve in their role as coaches.  

The Introduction to Refereeing Course had 20 participants, including 5 women referees. The participants learned the foundations of what it takes to be a great referee.  The areas covered during the course included the safety of the athletes, evaluation of holds, referee mechanics, positioning, and controlling the bout.  The participants were active during the course and could practice their skills through practical evaluations. 

During the courses, there were sessions involving both referees and coaches, led by Mr. Halawa. This allowed both groups to work together and better learn wrestling rules.