Pakistan's Inam Reaches for Beach Wrestling Glory

Friday, March 27, 2020 - 15:39 By Vinay Siwach

Muhammad Inam had never been to the beach. His hometown of Gujranwala is a hamlet, landlocked enclave in the northeast corner of Pakistan. For Inam the ocean, the salty air, and the wave pounded sands of the beach were nothing more than fantasy.

That was until Inam was entered to compete in the 80+ kg beach wrestling category during the 2014 Asian Beach Games in Phuket, Thailand. There Inam tasted the salt air, but also defeat.

A star wrestler in Pakistan having won Commonwealth Games gold medal in 2010, Inam finished with a bronze medal in Phuket. For a man of his stature and ability, Inam thought, a bronze medal was an underachievement.

But it was also an opportunity.

Inam decided that in the coming beach games and championships he’d be more prepared than his opponents and decided to include beach wrestling in his daily mat training and lifting routines.

"The closest beach for us was 1,300 kilometres away in Karachi," Inam said. "Going there is not possible as I have an akhara [wrestling centre] here. Pakistan's wrestling lives Gujranwala."

Muhammad INAM (PAK) and friends pose together next to the sandpit they constructed with the sand from a nearby lake.

With the help of his teammates, Inam traveled to a nearby lake and extracted sand to bring back to his akhara. Once collected he constructed a small circular practice pit.

The idea of making a sand pit for wrestling struck when he returned from Phuket and failed to find a similar training area close-by.

"I brought the sand from ponds and lakes and then made a circular ring at my center," he said. "I practice here daily. It's not costly and the young kids enjoy playing on the sand. It does not hurting them so they like the environment."

"I cannot wrestle everyday so we have small activities like beach volleyball or beach football. But I am on that sand for two hours a day so I get that feeling. My muscles get used to it."

His participation in mud wrestling competitions also grew as he wanted to increase his stamina. In 2016, Inam traveled to Vietnam for the Asian Beach Games. He returned home with a gold medal in the 90kg after beating Mohammad Sadati of Iran in the final. Out of the five bouts in the tournament, he did not concede a single point while scoring 17 of his own.

Muhammad INAM (PAK) edged Pejman Fazlollah TABAR NAGHRACHI (IRI) 2-1, and became Pakistan's first-ever wrestling world champion. (Photo: Max Rose-Fyne)

A year later, Inam became Pakistan's first-ever world champion in any form of wrestling. In Dalyan, Turkey, Inam captured the gold medal after beating Pejman Fazlollah TABAR NAGHRACHI (IRI) 2-1 in the final.

He returned to Turkey in 2018 to successfully defended his 90kg title by beating Irakli MTSITURI (GEO). In the two World Championships combined, Inam conceded only three points. His run in 2018 included four victories by fall including the final.

Hailed as the finest wrestler in Pakistan, Inam has kept his struggle going looking forward the newly minted 2019 Beach Wrestling World Series – a prize money event that touched on four location around the world. And after that a chance at the World Beach Games in Doha.

After making the pit at his wrestling centre, he practiced in that for two hours a day to adapt to the beach sand. This was not entirely new for him as he had been wrestling on mud since he was 10-years-old.

"Pakistan and India have mud wrestling and that is the base of this beach wrestling as well," he said. "My great grandfather wrestled, do did my grandfather and then my father. All of them were wrestlers in dangals so that is what helped me be good at beach wrestling."

Both the South Asian countries have traditional wrestling competitions on mud with a circular boundary, like in beach wrestling. In mud wrestling or dangals the winner is declared when one of the wrestler touches both shoulders of his opponents on the ground, a rule similar to beach.

With the easy rules and experience of competing in mud wrestling tournaments since he was a teenager, Inam knew that he has a bright chance of excelling in beach wrestling.

"I was always a mud wrestler. Pakistan had only five mats in the whole country," he said. "I would go around wrestling dangals and in 2014 I won the bronze medal at Asian Beach Games and I told myself that this is what I can be best at.

"It was a weird feeling as I was very comfortable on the sand. I had no problem find a grip in the sand because I had always practiced in mud."

Inam, a senior superintendent at the Gujranwala Electric Power Company, explains that his success on beach revolves around the fact that he decided to do what international wrestlers do on mat.

Muhammad INAM (PAK) and members of his team stand next to their makeshift sandpit.

"It's like the side are flipped. Earlier, I used to practice for mat competitions for one month prior to competition," he said. "The Georgia, Iran and Russia wrestlers would be practicing on mat throughout the year. But now, I am practicing beach wrestling for 12 months while the mat wrestlers are practicing only a one month before the competition."

With that confidence, he wanted to win the gold medal at the World Ranking Series Final in Zagreb, Croatia this year but an unexpected problem denied him the opportunity.

"I could not get a visa to Croatia because Pakistan does not have that an embassy there," he said. "I have been dealing with such troubles for a long time."

Despite being held out of the last event for the Beach Wrestling World Series, Inam still had his sties placed on winning gold at the World Beach Games as he was the only Pakistani athlete to qualify for the Games and therefore felt more pressure to win.

Inam was drawn in a tough Group B that also had 2012 London Olympics bronze medalist Dato Marsagishvili (GEO), among wrestlers from Azerbaijan, Turkey and Portugal. He began the day with a quick win over Kanan ALIYEV (AZE).

Next up was Murat Ozkan of Turkey. Inam was tested more than his first bout the results was not different. A 1-0 win was enough to keep him on track to reach the knockout stages. But before that, Inam had a tough one to crack in the group itself.

Dato Marsagishvili (GEO), the winner of 2019 Beach Wrestling World Series Final and the only wrestler to beat Inam on beach in last two years, was up next.

Perhaps Inam was waiting for it. The bout saw a lot of action however no wrestler was able to break the deadlock for the first two minutes. It was only in the final minute that Marsagishvili was awarded a point as Inam was warned for an eye poke. Inam did not agree with the decision but had no option but to continue. In the dying seconds of the bout, Inam scored a go-behind to win the 1-1 and avenge his earlier loss.

Inam comfortably topped the group after beating Adao ANDRADE (POR) 3-0 and reached the semi-finals. Marsagishvili also made it to the last-four as a result of his second-place in the group.

As fate would have it, both wrestler won the semi-finals. Inam defeated Pedro GARCIA (ESP) 3-0 while Marsagishvili got the better of Mihai PALAGHIA (ROU) 4-0. The two were now set for a third bout inside five months. Marsagishvili had taken the first win 2-0 at the Beach Wrestling World Series stop in Rio de Janeiro in May. Inam won the bout in the group stages in Doha. The stage was set for the third bout of the rivalry in Doha with the gold medal at the inaguaral World Beach Games on line.

Muhammad INAM (PAK) downed London Olympic bronze medalist Dato Marsagishvili (GEO), 5-3, in the World Beach Games finals. (Photo: Theo Lowenstein)

Marsagashvili build a two-point lead with two single-point takedowns. Inam roared back with two of his own to lead 2-2 on criteria and knew he has to play the clock for the last 40 seconds to win the gold medal.

Marsagashvili wanted to avenge his loss to Inam earlier in the day. In a desperate move in the closing seconds of the bout, he tried to trip Inam for the win but it was the latter who managed to balance himself and exposed Marsagishvili's back. Inam was awarded three points and the top medal.

"I have wrestled him before and I knew what I lacked in that bout in Rio," Inam said. "I loved winning in Doha because everyone was shouting in the arena and I was wrestling for Pakistan. The bout was so tough and to win it after a comeback gave me more joy. I cannot explain the atmosphere that day."

Back home, he was given a hero's welcome. Everyone wanted a piece of Inam and he had interviews lined-up with channels for several days.

After a successful campaign in Doha, Inam is hoping that beach wrestling can be included in the Olympic program for 2024 Games in Paris. Though he will be 35-years-old by then, he wants to win a wrestling medal for Pakistan which last won an Olympic medal in the sport back in 1960 Games in Rome.

Muhammad INAM (PAK) celebrates after winning the World Beach Games gold medal. (Photo: Theo Lowenstein)

"Beach wrestling will keep growing as it's so easy for both wrestlers and crowd," he said. "It is viewer friendly and only three minutes long. The rules are you need to touch a wrestler's back on the ground to win. This rule in common in all dangals across Pakistan and India and most wrestling styles around the world. If not that then push out your opponent to win."

"Freestyle and Greco-Roman is different because there are typical rules. The aggressive wrestler is also going down on his back and people get confuse as to why he is being awarded points when he is down on his back."

Olympic glory would definitely bring more money and fame for Inam but he thinks it will help wrestling, which is currently 'neglected' in the country. Though the boys still practice at the few centers that are left in the countries, Inam thinks it unfortunate that Pakistan could not build a women's wrestling team.

Freestyle wrestling is yet to pick up in Pakistan while belt wrestling is seen as the more acceptable form of the sport. Inam, however, thinks that beach wrestling can pick up in Pakistan and women will also be able to take up the sport.

"Pakistan has women's teams of karate, judo, taekwondo and even cricket. So why not wrestling?" he asks. "Beach wrestling is amazing to remove these culture problems and oppression which are same for everyone.

"If they are allowed in other sports, then allow them in wrestling as well. For gender equality, it is the best way to start. I think girls should be free to think if they want to go into sports. World has changed and with that we have to change and allow girls in wrestling."

#UWWAwards

End of the year Greco-Roman rankings

Sunday, November 6, 2022 - 23:18 By Vinay Siwach

CORSIER-SUR-VEVEY, Switzerland (November 7) -- As the Greco-Roman season comes to an end, the rankings in all 10 weight classes have been locked up.

Wrestlers who competed at the World Championships, continental championships, Ranking Series events and select regional games have got the benefit of being active throughout the year.

The top three wrestlers in each weight class will receive prize money. However, it is reduced from the previous year as that was a combined amount for two years as no rankings were declared in 2020 due to COVID-19.

Here are the rankings in all 10 Greco-Roman weight classes.

Eldaniz AZIZLI (AZE) finished at the top at 55kg. (Photo: UWW / Kadir Caliskan)

55kg
1. Eldaniz AZIZLI (AZE) - $5000
2. Nugzari TSURTSUMIA (GEO) - $3000
3. Jasurbek ORTIKBOEV (UZB) - $2000

The world and European titles were enough for Eldaniz AZIZLI (AZE) to climb up to the top spot in rankings at 55kg. The two-time world champion was previously ranked second but with the new rankings, he has 55000 points to jump and claim the prize money. He also participated in two ranking series events but that was at 60kg.

At both the European and World Championships, Tsurtsumia finished second to Azizli and that gave him only 45000 points from the two competitions. The second place at the European Championships was worth 8000 points while the silver in Belgrade was for 37000 points.

The third spot in the rankings at 55kg is taken by Jasurbek ORTIKBOEV (UZB) after he won the bronze medal at the World Championships. In 2022, Ortikboev claimed bronze medals at the Asian Championships and the Bolat Turlykhanov Cup as well. The bronze at the Asians was worth 6500 points while one in Almaty gave him 5200 points, taking his tally to 42700 points.

World champion Zholaman SHARSHENBEKOV (KGZ) reached the top at 60kg. (Photo: UWW / Kadir Caliskan)

60kg
1. Zholaman SHARSHENBEKOV (KGZ) - $5000
2. Edmond NAZARYAN (BUL) - $3000
3. Murad MAMMADOV (AZE) - $2000

Zholaman SHARSHENBEKOV (KGZ) was the Asian and World champion at 60kg which helped him take the top spot in the weight class. The run at the World Championships for the gold medal was worth 45000 points and the gold at Asians gave him 10000 points. His overall tally of 55000 points was 7000 points more than the second-placed Edmond NAZARYAN (BUL).

The two silver medals for Nazaryan in 2022 were enough for the youngster to help him finish second in the rankings. He lost to Kerem KAMAL (TUR) in the final of the European Championships and to Sharshenbekov in the world final. His silver in Belgrade got him 37000 points while the silver in Budapest was worth 11000 points.

The third spot in the 60kg rankings goes to Murad MAMMADOV (AZE). With 42500 points, Mammadov outplaced Kamal who could have finished second by winning a medal at the World Championships. Mammadov finished fifth at the Worlds to earn 25000 points but he also won gold at Matteo Pellicone and bronze at the European Championships to win a combined 17500 points.

Taleh MAMMADOV (AZE) topped the rankings at 63kg. (Photo: UWW / Kadir Caliskan)

63kg
1. Taleh MAMMADOV (AZE) - $5000
2. Leri ABULADZE (GEO) - $3000
3. Sebastian NAD (SRB) - $2000

Taleh MAMMADOV (AZE) lost to Leri ABULADZE (GEO) in the European Championships final and finished with bronze at the World Championships to Abuladze's silver. Yet, Mammadov won the top spot with 55200 points while Abuladze managed 50000 points.

Mammadov began the season with a bronze medal in Istanbul for 5200 points before silver in Budapest for 11000 points. He then went to Matteo Pellicone and claim the gold gave him 8000 points. The bronze in Belgrade added 31000 points for him to take the top spot.

Abuladze, on the other hand, participated only in the World and European Championships, claiming 13000 points in Budapest and the other 37000 points in Belgrade.

World champion Sebastian NAD (SRB) takes third place with 45000 points, all of which came in Belgrade.

Hasrat JAFAROV (AZE) is ranked number one at 67kg. (Photo: UWW / Kadir Caliskan)

67kg
1. Hasrat JAFAROV (AZE) - $5000
2. Murat FIRAT (TUR) - $3000
3. Mate NEMES (SRB) - $2000

One of the most exciting talents out there Hasrat JAFAROV (AZE) takes the number one rank at 67kg with 50500 points. Jafarov won bronze medals at the European and World Championships and a gold medal at the Matteo Pellicone for the top rank. He earned 11500 points from European Championships before adding 8000 points more in Rome. The World Championships bronze medal was worth 31000 points.

European champion Murat FIRAT (TUR) fell only 2500 points behind Jafarov to finish second with 48000 points. He earned 15000 points in Budapest before taking the trip to Mediterranean Games to earn the gold and 8000 points. Finishing fifth at the World Championships helped him get 25000 points and the second spot.

World champion Mate NEMES (SRB) not only stunned the Olympic champion Mohammadreza GEREAI (IRI) in the final, but he also outplaced him for the third spot with 45000 points.

Ulvi GANIZADE (AZE) took the top spot at 72kg in the rankings. (Photo: UWW / Kadir Caliskan)

72kg
1. Ulvi GANIZADE (AZE) - $5000
2. Ali ARSALAN (SRB) - $3000
3. Selcuk CAN (TUR) - $2000

Another Azerbaijan wrestler takes the top spot as Ulvi GANIZADE (AZE) rewarded for being of the most active wrestlers of the year. He began his season in Istanbul and finished 10th. That still helped him get 5480 points. He then won bronze at the European Championships for 9500 points. A second-place finish at the Matteo Pellicone then added 6400 points to his name. But the biggest came at the World Championships in which Ganizade won a silver medal. That was worth 37000 points.

World champion Ali ARSLAN (SRB) came close but he only participated in two tournaments. A bronze medal at the European Championships helped him get 9500 points. But he stunned the world by becoming the world champion at 72kg which gave him 45000 points and the second spot, a huge jump from the 21st spot.

Another big mover was Selcuk CAN (TUR) who moved from 12th to third by winning a bronze medal at the World Championships. He took a big step early in the year by winning the gold in Istanbul for 11000 points. He did not participate in the European Championships but he returned to win the bronze at the Matteo Pellicone 5200 points. He never looked to break into the top three but the World Championships bronze gave him 31000 points and the third spot.

Yunus BASAR (TUR) will get the $5000 for finishing at the top at 77kg. (Photo: UWW / Kadir Caliskan)

77kg
1. Yunus BASAR (TUR) - $5000
2. Akzhol MAKHMUDOV (KGZ) - $3000
3. Zoltan LEVAI (HUN) - $2000

With participation in four events that offered ranking points, Yunus BASAR (TUR) managed to surpass other favorites for the top spot at 77kg. The world bronze medalist got 11000 points for winning the gold medal in Istanbul before a silver medal at the European Championships added 13000 points to his tally. The 24000 points became 28000 points when he finished fifth at the Bolat Turlykhanov Cup. But adding 31000 points for the bronze in Belgrade, he took his tally to 59000 points.

World and Asian champion Akzhol MAKHMUDOV (KGZ) participated in only two events in 2022 and won gold in both. With 45000 points for the gold in Belgrade and 10000 points for the gold at the Asian Championships, Makhmudov managed 55000 points.

Silver medalist in Belgrade Zoltan LEVAI (HUN) fell 600 points behind Makhmudov to sit at third. He finished seventh at the European Championships which gave him only 9400 points. A gold medal at the Matteo Pellicone event gave 8000 points more. The other 37000 points came from the World Championships.

World champion Burhan AKBUDAK (TUR) secured his place at the top at 82kg. (Photo: UWW / Dogukan Karadag)

82kg
1. Burhan AKBUDAK (TUR) - $5000
2. Rafig HUSEYNOV (AZE) - $3000
3. Tamas LEVAI (HUN) - $2000

Last year it was Rafig HUSEYNOV (AZE) who finished first with Burhan AKBUDAK (TUR) finishing second. But this year the rankings are reversed with Akbudak finishing at the top with 69700 points. Huseynov managed only 45200 points.

Akbudak won four medals at events that offer points. He became the world champion for 45000 points but had 11500 points for his bronze at European Championships, 5200 points for his bronze in Almaty and 8000 points for winning gold in Istanbul.

Huseynov won the European Championships for 15000 points and got 5200 points for bronze in Istanbul. A medal in Belgrade could have helped him overtake Akbudak but he finished fifth for 25000 points.

Tamas LEVAI (HUN) won bronze medals at the European and World Championships for 11500 and 31000 points. With 42500 points, he finished third.

Zurabi DATUNASHVILI (SRB) won the World Championships gold and finished ranked number one at 87kg. (Photo: UWW / Kadir Caliskan)

87kg
1. Zurabi DATUNASHVILI (SRB) - $5000
2. Turpal BISULTANOV (DEN) - $3000
3. Ali CENGIZ (TUR) - $2000

He did not start the year on a great note but Zurabi DATUNASHVILI (SRB) managed to win the gold medal at the World Championships to finish at the top of the pack at 87kg. He finished with 58400 points, 45000 of which came for the gold in Belgrade. A silver medal in Istanbul gave him 6400 points before he slipped to the eighth spot at the European Championships for only 7000 points. But the world gold gave him enough points to reach the top.

Finishing second is Turpal BISULTANOV (DEN) with 50000 points. 13000 points came for his European title and 37000 points he won at the World Championships in which he won a silver medal.

Ali CENGIZ (TUR) takes the third spot with 41400 points earned for bronze at Yasar Dogu Ranking Series [5200 points], Mediterranean Games [5200 points] and World Championships [31000 points].

European champion Kiril MILOV (BUL) reached the top of the rankings at 97kg. (Photo: UWW / Martin Gabor)

97kg
1. Kiril MILOV (BUL) - $5000
2. Artur ALEKSANYAN (ARM) - $3000
3. Arif NIFTULLAYEV (AZE) - $2000

Kiril MILOV (BUL) participated in two tournaments in 2022 and reached the final in both. He won the European Championships for 15000 points but finished with silver at World Championships which earned him 37000 points.

Artur ALEKSANYAN (ARM) did not participate in any event in 2022 apart from the World Championships which he won 45000 points. He fell short of Milov due to his absence from the mat. He returned at the World Championships, winning the 97kg crown after five years.

Arif NIFTULLAYEV (AZE) finished third at 97kg, thanks to his bronze medal-winning performance at the World Championships. He finished with 44620 points in total, just 380 points less than Aleksanyan.

Finishing 12th in Istanbul, Niftullayev got 5100 points for that effort but he did earn 8520 points at the Matteo Pellicone by finishing seventh. But the World Championships bronze was worth 31000 points.

Just 220 points behind Niftullayev is Rustam ASSAKALOV (UZB) who could have moved ahead had he won a medal at the World Championships but he finished seventh.

Riza KAYAALP (TUR) won his fifth world title which also helped him rank one. (Photo: UWW / Kadir Caliskan)

130kg
1. Riza KAYAALP (TUR) - $5000
2. Mantas KNYSTAUTAS (LTU) - $3000
3. Amin MIRZAZADEH (IRI) - $2000

No one managed to stop Riza KAYAALP (TUR) from going to the top of the pile at 130kg. He won the World Championships for 45000 points, 13000 points for winning the European Championships, and 8000 points for gold at Matteo Pellicone. He won a bronze Istanbul Ranking Series event for 8200 points, taking his tally to 74200 points.

At the second spot, Mantas KNYSTAUTAS (LTU) earned 48500 points with wrestling at four events. He began with ninth place in Istanbul for 5800 points, another ninth place at the European Championships but still got 6500 points. But he got bronze medals at the Matteo Pellicone for 5200 points and World Championships which earned him 31000 points.

World silver medalist Amin MIRZAZADEH (IRI) rounds off the ranking with 43400 points for the third spot. He got 37000 points for his silver medal in Belgrade and 6400 points came for the silver at the Bolat Turlykhanov Cup.

Pakistan's Inam Reaches for Beach Wrestling Glory

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End of the year Greco-Roman rankings