#WrestleWarsaw

Live Blog: Poland Open Ranking Series, Day Two

By Eric Olanowski

Day two here in Warsaw as freestyle action continues in 61kg, 65kg, 74kg, 92kg and 125kg at the Poland Open Ranking Series event. Day 1 Recap

WATCH LIVE | MATCH ORDER

Final Matchups (As they come in):
61kg - Kumar RAVI (IND) vs. Gulomjon ABDULLAEV (UZB) 
65kg - John Michael DIAKOMIHALIS (USA) vs. Eduard GRIGOREV (POL) 
74kg - Mostafa Mohabbali HOSSEINKHANI (IRI) vs. Frank CHAMIZO MARQUEZ (ITA) 
92kg - Illia ARCHAIA (UKR) vs. Zbigniew BARANOWSKI (POL) 
125kg - Amir Hossein Abbas ZARE (IRI) vs. Nicholas GWIAZDOWSKI (USA)

13:28: That'll do it for our morning session. We'll see you back here at 18:00 (local time) for the start of Wednesday night's medal matches. Until then, so long, wrestling fans. 

13:16: What a great match between Kumar RAVI (IND) and Reza ATRINAGHARCHI (IRI) on Mat A! Ravi won the match 7-4, but it was a six-minute battle between the two Asian stars! 

13:00: There's your upset of the day! Illia ARCHAIA (UKR) just took out two-time world champion Jden COX (USA), 2-1, and moved into tonight's 92kg finals. He'll take on Zbigniew BARANOWSKI (POL) in the gold-medal match. 

12:41: After these matches wrap up, we'll roll right into the semifinals.

12:24: Iranian big man Amir ZARE (IRI) is coming up next on Mat A. This is his first international competition since he won last year's Matteo Pellicone Ranking Series gold medal.

12:18: That was one heck of a match! Together, the pair put up 13 points, but Muszukajev held off Diakomihalis, 7-6, and moved into Round 3 where he'll take on Eduard GRIGOREV (POL).

11:53: DROP WHATEVER YOU'RE DOING! Muszukajev and Diakomihalis are wrestling on Mat A. It'll be a rematch of the '19 Yasar Dogu.

11:39: Let's keep this two-time world champion thing on Mat B rolling! We'll replace Chamizo with two-time world champion J'den COX (USA).

11:38: Chamizo handles Kahny, 7-2, and will wrestle the winner of Jason Michael NOLF (USA) and Daniyar KAISANOV (KAZ).

11:30: The best-dressed man in wrestling, two-time world champion Frank CHAMIZO (ITA) is wrestling on Mat B. He leads Lucas Marco KAHNT (GER), 2-0 midway through the first period. 

11:13: Good morning, wrestling fans! Today's action is going to be filled with stars mixing it up on nearly every mat. The first big match of the morning is coming up on Mat A in four matches. Hungary's world bronze medalist Iszmail MUSZUKAJEV will wrestle John Michael DIAKOMIHALIS (USA) in a rematch the '19 Yasar Dogu.

If you remember that match, Muszukajjev led that early but Diakomihalis stormed back to steal the win. 

#UnitedWorldWrestling

UWW President Lalovic conferred Order of Dostyk by Kazakhstan

By United World Wrestling Press

CORSIER-SUR-VEVEY, Switzerland (February 26) -- United World Wrestling President Nenad LALOVIC was conferred the Order of Dostyk of the second degree by Kazakhstan President Kassaym Jomart TOKAYEV for his contribution to the development of wrestling in Kazakhstan.

The Order of Dostyk of second degree is one of the state awards of Kazakhstan which it confers foreign nationals for their efforts in peace, friendship and cooperation between people.

Lalovic was in the country in second week of February and visited various sports facilities including the under-construction National Sports University in Astana.

"I am glad to visit Astana again," Lalovic was quoted as saying by Kazakhstan media. "Your city is becoming more beautiful and modern. Today, I got acquainted with the new sports infrastructure, surveyed several facilities that have made sports an integral part of the urban environment. Sports complexes are built at a high level, providing comfort for both athletes and fans. Each of them is capable of hosting international competitions."

Highlighting the key role wrestling plays in enhancing the country’s stance on the international arena, Tokayev hailed the achievements of Kazakhstan wrestlers following their successful performance at major world competitions.

Kazakhstan won its first-ever Freestyle gold medal at senior World Championships in 2023 when Rizabek AITMUKHAN (KAZ) won at 92kg. Last year, Nurkozha KAIPANOV (KAZ) won gold at 70kg in Tirana to become the second world champion from the country.

In Greco-Roman, it has five gold medals from three wrestlers while in Women's Wrestling, it has no gold but multiple silver medalists.