#WrestleBelgrade

Maskevich Stuns Chakvetadze, Russia Bags 3 Gold Medals

Sunday, December 13, 2020 - 21:54 By Andrew Hipps

Share this article

Links:
Day 2 Photos
Interview with Davor STEFANEK (SRB)

BELGRADE, Serbia (December 13) -- Russia made a strong statement Sunday at the Individual World Cup, winning three of the first five gold medals, but it was a young star from Belarus who stole the show in the final match of the night in Belgrade, Serbia.

After Russia started the night 3-for-3 in Sunday's Greco-Roman finals, Kiryl MASKEVICH (BLR), a decided underdog, stepped on the mat to face Russian Olympic champion Davit CHAKVETADZE (RUS).

The 22-year-old Belarusian was poised and confident, scoring the match's first point off a passivity. He extended his lead to 3-0 when Chakvetadze did not get set in the par terre position. Maskevich then lifted Chakvetadze from par terre and executed a five-point suplay before turning him for good measure to claim a 10-0 technical superiority in the first period.

Winning gold medals for Russia on Sunday were Roman VLASOV (77kg), Emin SEFERSHAEV (55kg) and Nazir ABDULLAEV (67kg).

Roman VLASOV (RUS) after winning gold at 77kg (Photo: Kadir Caliskan, UWW)

Vlasov, a two-time Olympic champion, hit a big throw on his way to a 6-1 victory over Zoltan LEVAI (HUN) in the 77kg finals. Vlasov scored first off a passivity and then executed a five-point throw to take a commanding 6-0 lead in the first period. Levai would get one the scoreboard in the second period off a passivity but was never able to threaten Vlasov.

Emin SEFERSHAEV (RUS) became the first champ at Individual World Cup, winning gold at 55kg (Photo: Gabor MARTIN, UWW)

Sefershaev, a U23 world silver medalist, claimed the gold at 55kg with an 8-0 technical superiority over Serif KILIC (TUR), a past junior world champion. The first period saw one only one point scored as Sefershaev earned a passivity point. The Russian turned it up in the second period. He scored another point off a passivity and then used a two-point throw to go up 6-0. Sefershaev scored two takedowns in the final 25 seconds to earn the technical superiority.


Nazir ABDULLAEV (RUS) raises his arms after winning gold at 67kg (Photo/Gabor MARTIN, UWW)

Abdullaev, a 2020 European silver medalist, needed a late score to edge 2014 Youth Olympic champion Islambek DADOV (AZE) 2-1 in the gold-medal match at 67kg. The two wrestlers traded passivity points, with Dadov scoring the second one in the final period to take a criteria lead. Abdullaev kept the pressure on and earned a step-out point with 23 seconds remaining, which proved to be the difference.

Champion Balint KORPASI (HUN) and the other 72kg medalists on the award stand (Photo/Gabor MARTIN, UWW)

Balint KORPASI (HUN), a 2016 world champion and  four-time world medalist, captured the gold at 72kg with a won a hard-fought 1-1 criteria win over world No.10 Malkhas AMOYAN (ARM). Amoyan scored the first point of the match off a passivity and led 1-0 at the break. In the second period, Korpasi scored a point off passivity to take the lead and held on for the victory.

Eldaniz AZIZLI (AZE) and Abdelkarim FERGAT (ALG) won the bronze medals at 55kg. Azizli shut out Balbai DORDOKOV (KGZ) 3-0, while Fergat topped Artiom DELEANU (MDA) 6-4.

Slavik GALSTYAN (ARM) won by fall over Artur POLITAIEV (UKR) to claim a bronze medal at 67kg. Roman PACURKOWSKI (POL) defeated Khalmurat IBRAGIMOV (KGZ) 6-3 to earn the other bronze at 67kg.

Cengiz ARSLAN (TUR) and Ruslan TSAREV (KGZ) won the bronze medals at 72kg.

Host nation Serbia earned two bronze medals on Sunday, with Viktor NEMES taking bronze at 77kg and Zurabi DATUNASHVILI winning bronze at 87kg. 

Also claiming bronze medals on Sunday were Alexandrin GUTU (MDA) at 77kg and Semen NOVIKOV (UKR) at 87kg.

Greco-Roman Medal Match Results

55kg
GOLD: Emin SEFERSHAEV (RUS) df. Serif KILIC (TUR) by VSU, 8-0
BRONZE: Eldaniz AZIZLI (AZE) df. Balbai DORDOKOV (KGZ) by VPO, 3-0
BRONZE: Abdelkarim FERGAT (ALG) df. Artiom DELEANU (MDA) by VPO1, 6-4

67kg
GOLD: Nazir ABDULLAEV (RUS) df. Islambek DADOV (AZE) by VPO1, 2-1
BRONZE: Slavik GALSTYAN (ARM) df. Artur POLITAIEV (UKR) by VFA, 4-4
BRONZE: Roman PACURKOWSKI (POL) df. Khalmurat IBRAGIMOV (KGZ) by VPO1, 6-3

72kg
GOLD: Balint KORPASI (HUN) df. Malkhas AMOYAN (ARM) by VPO1, 1-1
BRONZE: Cengiz ARSLAN (TUR) df. Valentin PETIC (MDA) by VPO1, 5-1
BRONZE: Ruslan TSAREV (KGZ) df. Aik MNATSAKANIAN (BUL) by VPO1, 3-1

77kg
GOLD: Roman VLASOV (RUS) df. Zoltan LEVAI (HUN) by VPO1, 6-1
BRONZE: Viktor NEMES (SRB) df. Karapet CHALYAN (ARM) by VPO1, 4-1
BRONZE: Alexandrin GUTU (MDA) df. Yasaf ZEINALOV (UKR) by VPO1, 6-4

87kg
GOLD: Kiryl MASKEVICH (BLR) df. Davit CHAKVETADZE (RUS) by VSU, 10-0
BRONZE: Semen NOVIKOV (UKR) df. Hossein Ahmad NOURI (IRI) by VSU1, 12-4
BRONZE: Zurabi DATUNASHVILI (SRB) df. Fabio PARISI (ITA) by VPO1, 3-1
 

#WrestleBelgrade

Makhmudov returns to worlds final; Kayaalp-Mirzazadeh showdown at 130kg

Thursday, September 21, 2023 - 16:22 By Vinay Siwach

Share this article

BELGRADE, Serbia (September 21) -- World champion and Olympic silver medalist Akzhol MAKHMUDOV (KGZ) survived a big scare in the semifinal of the 77kg weight class as Nao KUSAKA (JPN) came within three points of stunning the Kyrgyz history maker.

Makhmudov survived to win 7-5 in a bout that saw Kusaka mount a comeback in the second period after trailing 7-1.

Kusaka got the first passivity advantage but failed to get any turn on Makhmudov who got a takedown using an arm spin and one turn to lead 4-1. In the second period, Kusaka was called passive and Makhmudov managed to turn him again to make it 7-1.

But as Makhmudov began to fade away, Kusaka scored two takedowns in one minute to make it 7-5. Makhmudov defended his two-point lead for the final 15 seconds to make it to the final.

"It makes me realize I am not so far from the world level," Kusaka said about his performance. "In the second period, the opponent was running out of gas. I just needed to get one more move. But there was fatigue from the tournament overall. I wanted to attack but I couldn't. I'm still a bit behind."

Kusaka still has a chance to qualify for the 2024 Paris Olympics if he wins a bronze medal on Friday.

"I will try to get what I have put everything in my life into," he said about qualifying for Paris. "It was disappointing [to lose today], but tomorrow I will regroup and definitely come out and win. Whether I lose in the first round or in the semifinal, if I don't get to the Olympics it's all for nothing."

Makhmudov will take on 2021 world silver medalist Sanan SULEYMANOV (AZE) for the gold medal. Suleymanov put on a big show to defeat European champion Malkhas AMOYAN (ARM) 5-0 as he got a big four-pointer in the second period to get the win.

Both Kyrgyzstan and Azerbaijan also won Paris Olympic spots, thanks to the wrestlers reaching the final at the World Championships.

At 130kg, Riza KAYAALP (TUR) will look to defend his gold against Amin MIRZAZADEH (IRI) in the final, a repeat from last year.

Kayaalp, a three-time Olympic champion, defeated Lingzhe MENG (CHN), 3-1 and earned a Paris spot for Turkiye. Kayaalp got the third passivity but Meng did not ask for par terre and Kayaalp remained unmoved to win 3-1.

Mirzazadeh defeated Oscar PINO HINDS (CUB), 1-1, in the other semifinal after the two traded passivities. He also earned a Paris quota for Iran and will now look to become a world champion over Kayaalp.

In the two non-Olympic weight classes in action on Thursday, Rafig HUSEYNOV (AZE) returned to the World Championships final after two years as he defeated defending champion Burhan AKBUDAK (TUR), 5-5, in a thrilling semifinal after a third passivity.

Huseynov had defeated Akbudak to win gold in 2021 but since has lost twice to Akbudak. He was trailing 5-0 in the semifinal but Huseynov, who received the par terre advantage in the second period managed to get exposure and two points to cut Akbudak's lead to 5-3.

Akbudak was called passive again with 1:10 on the clock and Huseynov was called for a leg foul when he was attempting a lift. Azerbaijan challenged and Akbudak was guilty of blocking. The caution and two points put Huseynov ahead 5-5 on criteria, a lead he defended till the end.

To win his second world gold medal, Huseynov will take on Alireza MOHMADIPIANI (IRI) who also won on a third passvity. Mihail BRADU (MDA) was leding 1-1 on criteria when he was called passive for the second time and Mohamadipiani got a huge bodylock for four to win 5-1.

At 55kg, defending world champion Eldaniz AZIZLI (AZE) set up a repeat final against Nugzari TSURTSUMIA (GEO).

Azizli got a 3-1 win over Poya DAD MARZ (IRI) while Tsurtsumia defeated Jasurbek ORTIKBOEV (UZB), 7-4, in what was a repeat of the quarterfinal from 2022 which the Georgian won 5-2.