Masoumi repeats to lead Iran to U20 Worlds team title

Wednesday, August 16, 2023 - 22:47 By Vinay Siwach

AMMAN, Jordan (August 16) -- At the Asian Championships in Astana, Amirreza MASOUMI (IRI) had two stunning losses. He lost his semifinal against eventual champion Lkhagvagerel MUNKHTUR (MGL), his first-ever loss internationally, and later the bronze-medal bout to BUHEEERDUN (CHN) via fall. The two losses cast doubts over Masoumi's claims of being the closest to replacing Amirhossein ZARE (IRI) in the senior team at 125kg.

But Masoumi is once again back in the talks of being the next big thing at 125kg after he won his second U20 world title in Amman, Jordan on Wednesday.

The defending champion looked in no trouble whatsoever over the two days he wrestled, outscoring his opponents 51-1 in the five bouts. Apart from the two U20 world titles, Masoumi also has gold medals at the U17 and U23 World Championships.

His win capped off the Freestyle competition in Amman with Iran winning the team title with 165 points, 13 more than the United States which finished second. India was third with 102 points.

Along with Masoumi, Mohammadmobin AZIMI (IRI) also won the gold medal as Iran won four gold, two silver and one bronze medal in the tournament.

Masoumi wrestled Said AKHMATOV (AIN) in the final and launched him for a four-point throw nine seconds into the bout. He added a stepout to make it 5-0 soon. He added another stepout to lead 6-0 and showed his frustration towards Akhmatov's unprovoked aggression during the bout.

Returning to the center, Masoumi took his time before getting a single-leg attack and converting it into two points. His solid underhooks kept Akhmatov out of action and Masoumi added another stepout to lead 9-0.

Both wrestlers were warned for aggressive snapping and the referee eventually cautioned Akhmatov and awarded a point to Masoumi thus ending the bout. AIN challenged the call but the original decision was upheld, giving Masoumi an 11-0 win.

Mohammadmobin AZIMI (IRI) scores a takedown in the 92kg final against Rizabek AITMUKHAN (KAZ). (Photo: UWW / Amirreza Aliasgari)

While Masoumi's was a very one-sided win, Azimi had to work a lot harder for the gold medal at 92kg.

Azimi was up against senior Asian Championships silver medalist Rizabek AITMUKHAN (KAZ) who made a late comeback in the final but fell 5-4.

After a little scramble to begin the final, Azimi scored a takedown and led 2-0 after Aitmukhan was called for inactivity. Azimi scored a takedown in the second period as he got hold of Aitmukhan's single leg. Aitmukhan tried to hit a whizzer but failed to complete it and Azimi ended up being on the top.

Aitmukhan gave up another stepout as he was trying to circle back in when Azimi was trying to push him. With just 1:18 left on the clock and Azimi leading 5-0, Aitmukhan had a mountain to climb.

But he began with an ankle pick for two, added a stepout to cut the lead to 5-3 and almost got a takedown using head-inside but Azimi pulled his singlet. Azimi was penalized a point for the foul but Aitmukhan still needed another point with 17 seconds on the clock. Azimi managed to hold off Aitmukhan for that time and won the gold, two months after he won the U20 Asian Championships in the same city.

Mitchell MESENBRINK (USA) won the 74kg gold medal after beating Hossein AGHAEI (IRI). (Photo: UWW / Kostadin Andonov)

Iran could have had three gold medals on Wednesday but Mitchell MESENBRINK (USA) derailed those plans by winning the 74kg final against Hossein AGHAEI (IRI) 16-5, his fifth technical superiority win of the tournament.

The silver medalist at 70kg from last year, Mesenbrink went all out from the first whistle and scored a stepout nine seconds after the start. In the second scoring action, he trapped Aghaei's arm and scored a takedown before getting two turns. Aghaei got a reversal and went straight for the leg lace for a turn.

Mesenbrink, leading 7-3, added a takedown and stepout to lead 10-3 before Aghaei scored a takedown. But with Aghaei struggling with his conditioning, it was a matter of time before Mesenbrink finished the bout 16-5 to win the gold he missed last year.

Rakhim MAGAMADOV (FRA) won the 86kg final against Fumiya IGARASHI (JPN) 6-4. (Photo: UWW / Kostadin Andonov)

Magamadov repeats

Rakhim MAGAMADOV (FRA) defended his 86kg title after beating Fumiya IGARASHI (JPN) 6-4 in the gold medal match. Magamadov has become the first Freestyle wrestler from France to win two world titles across age groups.

Unlike his final in Sofia last year, Magamadov did not have a come-from-behind victory in Amman. However, he had to work hard to defend his lead against Igarashi who threatened to upset the champion in the second period.

Magamadov scored two takedowns in the first period to lead 4-0 and added another in the second period to extend it to 6-0. Igarashi kept coming back and even pushed Magamadov out-of-bounds twice but was called grounded.

Igarashi finally opened his score with a stepout with only 35 seconds left on the clock. Mamagadov was cautioned for fleeing and put in par terre which perhaps played negatively for Igarashi as he wanted the bout to restart in standing. With just 11 seconds remaining on the clock, Igarashi scored a takedown in the final second, not enough to stop Magamadov from winning his second straight gold medal at the U20 World Championships.

Mohit KUMAR (IND) won the 61kg gold to become India's fourth U20 world champion in Freestyle. (Photo: UWW / Amirreza Aliasgari)

Mohit KUMAR (IND) became only the fourth Indian wrestler to win a Freestyle gold medal at the U20 World Championships when he defeated Eldar AKHMADUDINOV (AIN) 9-8 in the 61kg final.

India won it's first Freestyle U20 world title in 2001 when two wrestlers, Palwinder CHEEMA (IND) and Ramesh KUMAR (IND), won gold at 130kg and 69kg respectively. The nation had to wait 18 years for the third title as Deepak PUNIA (IND) won the gold at 86kg in 2019. Kumar made sure India did not have to wait that long for its fourth as he won the final in Amman.

But Kumar's path to the gold had been nothing short of edge-of-the-seat stuff. After winning his first two bouts via technical superiority, Kumar faced Nicholas BOUZAKIS (USA) in the quarterfinals. Both wrestlers exchanged the lead numerous times before Kumar managed to win 12-11. In the semifinals, Kumar pinned Besir ALILI (MKD) but not before himself surviving a pin call.

The final against Akhmadudinov, who scored a stunning takedown using a fake attack to win his semifinal 10-9 against Ali KHORRAMDEL (IRI), was equally dramatic as at one point Kumar trailed 6-0. Just before the break, Kumar scored a takedown to make it 6-2.

Kumar scored a stepout and then got a point as Akhmadudinov pulled Kumar's singlet during an attack. As Akhmadudinov struggled with his conditioning, Kumar scored an easy takedown and exposure in the same sequence to get an 8-6 lead. A stepout made it 9-6 with 46 seconds remaining in the final.

Akhmadudinov's late burst of energy helped him score a takedown, awarded to him only after a challenge. With his 9-8 lead and 14 seconds left on the clock, Kumar managed to keep Akhmadudinov at bay and win India's first gold of the tournament.

RESULTS

61kg
GOLD: Mohit KUMAR (IND) df. Eldar AKHMADUDINOV (AIN), 9-8

BRONZE: Nicholas BOUZAKIS (USA) df. Besir ALILI (MKD), 11-1
BRONZE: Ali KHORRAMDEL (IRI) df. Tamazi SULAMANIDZE (GEO), 10-0

74kg
GOLD: Mitchell MESENBRINK (USA) df. Hossein AGHAEI (IRI), 16-5

BRONZE: JAIDEEP (IND) df. Zhakshylyk BAITASHOV (KGZ), via fall (4-2)
BRONZE: Giorgi GOGRITCHIANI (GEO) df. Anton SUCHKOV (AIN), 3-2

86kg
GOLD: Rakhim MAGAMADOV (FRA) df. Fumiya IGARASHI (JPN), 6-4

BRONZE: Eugeniu MIHALCEAN (MDA) df. Mushegh MKRTCHYAN (ARM), 3-0
BRONZE: Bennett BERGE (USA) df. Shakjir BISLIMI (MKD), 11-0

92kg
GOLD: Mohammadmobin AZIMI (IRI) df. Rizabek AITMUKHAN (KAZ), 5-4

BRONZE: Mustafagadzhi MALACHDIBIROV (AIN) df. Knyaz IBOYAN (ARM), 10-0
BRONZE: Giorgi ROMELASHVILI (GEO) df. Nurbolot ADYL UULU (KGZ), 8-1

125kg
GOLD: Amirreza MASOUMI (IRI) df. Said AKHMATOV (AIN), 11-0

BRONZE: Rajat RUHAL (IND) vs. Karanveer MAHIL (CAN), 9-8
BRONZE: Hakan BUYUKCINGIL (TUR) vs. Volodymyr KOCHANOV (UKR), 11-1

Podium Iran won the Freestyle team title with the United States finishing second and India third. (Photo: UWW / Amirreza Aliasgari)

Semifinals

50kg
GOLD: Yanrong LI (CHN) df. Audrey JIMENEZ (USA)

SF 1: Yanrong LI (CHN) df. Viktoriia SLOBODENIUK (UKR), via fall (2-2)
SF 2: Audrey JIMENEZ (USA) df. Reka HEGEDUS (SVK), 12-2

55kg
GOLD: Aryna MARTYNAVA (AIN) vs. Georgiana LIRCA (ROU)

SF 1: Georgiana LIRCA (ROU) df. Moe KIYOOKA (JPN), via fall (4-2)
SF 2: Aryna MARTYNAVA (AIN) df. Albina RILLIA (UKR), 11-0

59kg
GOLD: Alesia HETMANAVA (AIN) vs. Aurora RUSSO (ITA)

SF 1: Aurora RUSSO (ITA) df. Alexis JANIAK (USA), 9-8
SF 2: Alesia HETMANAVA (AIN) df. Kalmira BILIMBEK KYZY (KGZ), 6-4

68kg
GOLD: Elizaveta PETLIAKOVA (AIN) vs. Ray HOSHINO (JPN)

SF 1: Ray HOSHINO (JPN) df. Alina SHAUCHUK (AIN), 9-4
SF 2: Elizaveta PETLIAKOVA (AIN) df. ARJU (IND), 6-3

76kg
GOLD: PRIYA (IND) vs. Laura KUEHN (GER)

SF 1: Laura KUEHN (GER) df. Veronika NYIKOS (HUN), 9-4
SF 2: PRIYA (IND) df. Kennedy BLADES (USA), 10-0

On his path to Paris, Burroughs makes a stop in Taraz

Thursday, November 2, 2023 - 19:15 By Vinay Siwach

TARAZ, Kazakhstan (November 2) -- The sports hall at the 'Athletic' Hotel in Taraz is full of boxing world champions and medalists. The Kazakhstan boxers are preparing for an upcoming domestic tournament.

A few meters away from the boxing ring are two wrestling mats, crowded with wrestlers from various countries. But as Jordan BURROUGHS (USA) begins his training, one mat is slowly vacated with wrestlers moving to the other.

It's his final training session before he steps on the mat on Friday as the six-time world champion will wrestle at the Kunayev DA tournament in the south Kazakhstan city. Back at 74kg after almost three years, Burroughs gearing up for the Paris Olympics next year.

Once Burroughs begins his drills, mobiles are out to record, a few others watch and admire, and even the boxers pause briefly and catch a glimpse. He spars with Joseph MCKENNA (USA) who is participating in the tournament at 65kg. The 30-minute session has Burroughs defend McKenna's shots, and work on finishing leg attacks and some heavy-hands. The sparring is followed by a long session of skipping ropes.

As the 35-year-old cools down, there are a few requests for photographs from young kids and other wrestlers. He obliges.

Jordan BURROUGHS (USA)

The DA Kunayev tournament in Taraz will be Burroughs' first international appearance since the 2022 World Cup in Iowa. While the United States won the gold there, Burroughs personally suffered a big loss. He lost, for the first time in his career, to an Iranian wrestler Ali SAVADKOUHI (IRI).

He tried making the U.S. team for the World Championships this year at 79kg but lost the trials to Chance MATSTELLER (USA). So what is Burroughs doing in Taraz at the end of the 2023 season?

"There is no international tournament in 2023 after this one," Brandon SLAY (USA), the coach with Burroughs in Taraz, said. "The Pan-Am Games or this. Burroughs coming down to 74kg meant we need to do this gradually but wrestling at Pan-Am Games would mean to make 74kg at scratch."

A two-kilogram allowance in Taraz helps Burroughs as he slowly shifts back to 74kg, an Olympic weight class in which he won gold in the 2012 London Games and now looking to repeat in Paris.

But the road to Paris is filled with challenges. Domestically, Burroughs will have to win the Olympic trial in April, going through four-time world champion Kyle DAKE (USA) who qualified the weight for the U.S. in Belgrade by winning silver. But to reach Dake, Burroughs will have to beat some of the best wrestlers in the U.S. including Jason NOLF (USA), Mitchell MESENBRINK (USA), Keegan O'TOOLE (USA), the top four U.S. wrestlers from this month's Bill Farrell International, the top five wrestlers from the National Championships in December, the 2024 NCAA champion and the 2024 Pan-American Championships champion. Marsteller is also qualified for the Olympic trial and can compete if he decides to drop to 74kg in April.

Perhaps that's what made Burroughs take the trip to Kazakhstan. This will be his first invitational tournament in six years.

"Kazakhstan has been amazing," Slay said. "We participated here last year for the first time and this was in our minds this year as well. The organizers have been very accommodating. Despite the long travel, it's reasonable to stay and wrestle here. We get to wrestle international wrestlers so that is what we were looking for."

Burroughs is up against the U20 Asian champion from Kazakhstan Yerkhan BEXULTANOV (KAZ) and if he manages to reach the final in the 20-man bracket on Saturday, he is likely to get another Kazakhstan wrestler.

"He is the only American in the bracket so we are not thinking too much," Slay said. "I am pretty satisfied with the brackets here."

Back in the sports hall, Burroughs rests himself for a brief period before calling it a day. No signs of aggressive reduction of weight. He will perhaps step on the weighing scale more than once before he actually does on Friday morning for the weigh-ins.

That is when Burroughs' battle for the Paris Olympics at 74kg begins.

Masoumi repeats to lead Iran to U20 Worlds team title

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On his path to Paris, Burroughs makes a stop in Taraz