#WrestleRome

Putkaradze upgrades silver to U17 world gold; Iran wins GR team title

Wednesday, July 27, 2022 - 19:58 By Vinay Siwach

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ROME, Italy (July 27) -- Over the last year, Anri PUTKARADZE (GEO) has suffered a few heartbreaks. Out of them, the biggest was his 6-6 loss to Imed KHUDZHADZE (UKR) in the 65kg final at the '21 U17 World Championships in Budapest.

Last month, Putkaradze was the favorite to win the gold at the U17 European Championships but was shocked in the pre-quarterfinals as he suffered a 7-6 loss to Antal VAMOS (SRB).

In Rome, when the draw for 71kg at the U17 World Championships was released, he was in for some tough bouts. European champion Ibrahim OZDEMIR (TUR), Arvin KHOSRAVY (USA) and even Vamos were drawn on the same side of the bracket. As he navigated his way to the quarterfinals, his first big test came against Khosravy. He won the bout 10-0 to set up a semifinal against Ozdemir. The first 20 seconds witnessed Putkaradze getting a four but Ozdemir recoved with a reversal and gut wrench. Putkaradze led 6-3 at the break. Just when it seemed that Ozdemir will make a comeback, Putkaradze flung a body lock throw for four and secured the fall to enter the final for the second straight year.

A day later, Putkaradze wrestled European silver medalist Davud MAMMADOV (AZE) in the final. Putting his past heartbreaks behind and wrestling with some tactics, Putkaradze won the gold medal, the first of his career, with a 3-1 win against Mammadov.

The 17-year-old got the advantage when Mammadov was called passive in the first period. He then managed to roll the Azerbaijan wrestler and lead 3-0 at the break. Putkaradze had to defend his lead for two minutes.

In his previous finals, he had failed to do so but in Rome, Putkaradze gave up a point for passivity but defended from par terre to win the gold 3-1.

Gor AYVAZYAN (GEO)Gor AYVAZYAN (GEO) celebrates after winning the 92kg gold medal. (Photo: UWW / Kadir Caliskan)

Another Georgian wrestler who made amends from last year's medalless finish was Gor AYVAZYAN (GEO). He gave the nation a second gold of the night by winning the 92kg final. He was pinned despite leading in Budapest last year and finished eighth.

But he made sure there were no slip-ups in this edition. Wrestling European Championships bronze medalist Darius KIEFER (GER) in the final, Ayvazyan showed the gulf in class, finishing the bout with gut wrenches inside the first period.

He used the same technique to win his semifinal against Asian bronze medalist Hamidreza KESHTKAR (IRI) 5-3. After giving up a turn from par terre in the first period, Ayvazyan got two when Keshtkar was put in par terre.

Overall, the Georgian outscored his opponents 34-5 in four bouts.

Aytjan KHALMAKHANOV (UZB)Aytjan KHALMAKHANOV (UZB) pinned Mohammadreza GHOLAMI (IRI) in the 51kg final. (Photo: UWW / Kadir Caliskan)

Despite the two gold medals Wednesday, Georgia failed to defend its team title and finished third with 121 points. Iran won the top honors with 135 points while Europe's best team Azerbaijan finished second with 130 points.

Iran had one finalist Wednesday and could have locked up the team title if Asian champion Mohammadreza GHOLAMI (IRI) had defeated Aytjan KHALMAKHANOV (UZB). Instead, he got pinned when Khalmakhanov stopped his bearhug throw and kept him on the mat. Gholami tried to escape the fall but Khalmakhanov had perfect control with both hands behind his opponent's back.

This was Uzbekistan's fifth Greco-Roman title and first in four years at the U17 World Championships. Khalmakhanov has now joined Abror ATABAEV (UZB), Lazizkhon UZBEKOV (UZB), Elbek ERGASHEV (UZB) and Turabek TIRKASHEV (UZB) as the nation's U17 world champs.

Yevhen PKOVBA (UKR)Yevhen PKOVBA (UKR) added a U17 World gold to his European gold. (Photo: UWW / Martin Gabor)

Uzbekistan could have had a second world champion in Rome but European champion Yevhen POKOVBA (UKR) had different ideas.

Asian champion Shakhzod RUZIOKHUNOV (UZB) tried all he could but was unable to break the defense of Pokovba in the 45kg final, as the Ukrainian won the gold with a thumping 9-0 win.

Pokovba got the advantage in the first period when Ruziokhunov was called passive. He got two turns from par terre to lead 5-0 at the break.

Seeing no other option, Ruziokhunov tried an arm throw but Pokovba stopped him midway and converted it into a takedown. He then got another turn to finish the bout with 1:29 remaining.

The final may have turned out to be easy for Pokovba but he was made to work hard to reach the gold medal bout.

Wrestling Asian silver medalist Payam AHMADI (IRI) in the semifinals, Pokovba was trailing 3-0 when he got a lucky chest wrap and two turns to lead 6-5 at the break. Ahmadi got the head-pinch for two but opened his hands at the last moment which resulted in two for Pokovba as well. Ahmadi's final attack came a second too late as Pokovba won 9-7.

Gaspar TERTERYAN (ARM)Gaspar TERTERYAN (ARM) became only the third U17 Greco-Roman world champ from Armenia. (Photo: UWW / Martin Gabor)

The fifth gold of the night when to Armenia as Gaspar TERTERYAN (ARM) became the nation's third-ever U17 Greco-Roman world champion.

Karen KHACHATARYAN (ARM) won the title in 2018, ending a 25-year wait for the nation. Terteryan's gold also helped Armenia put behind a medalless show in Budapest.

While it was a moment to savor for Terteryan, he denied France a piece of history. Lucas LO GRASSO (FRA), the first-ever Greco-Roman U17 World finalist for France, was aiming to become the nation's first-ever world champion but fell short.

In the 60kg final, Lo Grasso was called passive and Terteryan managed to get a turn to lead 3-0 at the break. Lo Grasso went for the arm throw in the second period but had an awkward fall which did not count as a slip and Terteryan was awarded two points. He added another turn to make it 7-0.

Between the two moves, France had challenged for a slip but they lost the challenge and Terteryan got the winning point in the 8-0 win.

Sowaka UCHIDA (JPN)Sowaka UCHIDA (JPN) reached the 57kg final with 3 technical superiority wins and one fall. (Photo: UWW / Kadir Caliskan)

Japan sends 3 in WW finals

Women's wrestling also began at the U17 Worlds with gold medal bouts of five weight classes set. Japan, returning to the competition after skipping the previous edition, managed to enter three wrestlers in the gold medal bouts.

Sowaka UCHIDA (JPN) led the way for Japan as she destroyed her opponents to make the 57kg final. She is yet to give up a single point after four bouts as her wins include three technical superiority and one fall.

In the final, she will face European silver medalist Gerda TEREK (HUN) who avenged her Bucharest final loss to Tuba DEMIR (TUR) with a fall.

At 49kg, Mihoko TAKEUCHI (JPN) set up a gold medal bout with returning bronze and European champion Ruzanna MAMMADOVA (AZE).

Like Uchida, Takeuchi has also dominated the show with three technical superiority wins. But Mammadova may prove to be a tough opponent in the final.

Mammadov had a tough quarterfinal against Sevval CAYIR (TUR), an opponent she beat in Euros semifinal. A month ago, the score was 8-5 but Wednesday, Cayir closed the gap to one point, losing an extremely close bout 3-2.

Anju SATO (JPN) would consider her lucky to reach the final at 65kg against Maria PANTIRU (ROU). Sato was awarded points for a leg lace when Zharkynai NURLAN KYZY (KGZ) was well outside the zone in the semifinal. Sato won 6-5.

Pantiru avenged her European lost to Reka VAN OS (NED) with a fall and then made her way to the semifinal against Viktoria FOELDESIOVA (SVK). She controlled the bout and won 8-2.

Erica PASTORIZA (USA)Erica PASTORIZA (USA), red, is one win away from her second world title. (Photo: UWW / Martin Gabor)

At 43kg, returning world champion Erica PASTORIZA (USA) will be eyeing her second world title. Just one win away, she will face Asian champion RITIKA (IND) in the final.

Ritika's semifinal against Anastasiia POLSKA (UKR) was the only time she could not get a victory via fall. She won 7-0 to enter the final.

Pastoriza used the ankle-pick to great effect throughout the day to reach her second straight U17 World final.

The defending champion at 73kg Priya MALIK (IND) will try to win her second straight gold after reaching the final. But she will have to beat European bronze medalist Mariia ZENKINA (UKR) for that.

Zenkina pinned Makoto KOMADA (JPN) to reach the final and will now hope to upset Malik.

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RESULTS

Greco-Roman

45kg
GOLD: Yevhen POKOVBA (UKR) df. Shakhzod RUZIOKHUNOV (UZB), 9-0

BRONZE: Huseyn SAVADOV (AZE) df. Ionut MEREUTA (ROU), 9-0
BRONZE: Payam AHMADI BALOOTAKI (IRI) df. Beknur MUKAN (KAZ), 9-0 

51kg
GOLD: Aytjan KHALMAKHANOV (UZB) df. Mohammadreza GHOLAMI (IRI), via fall

BRONZE: MANISH (IND) df. Ali SUMBUL (TUR), 8-0
BRONZE: Vadat GASIMLI (AZE) df. Anri KHOZREVANIDZE (GEO), 4-3

60kg
GOLD: Gaspar TERTERYAN (ARM) df. Lucas LO GRASSO (FRA), 8-0 

BRONZE: Omar MOURAD (EGY) df. Emirlan DUISHENALIEV (KGZ), 7-2
BRONZE: Yussuf ASHRAPOV (KAZ) df. Abolfazl MIRSHEKAR (IRI), via fall (11-10)

71kg
GOLD: Anri PUTKARADZE (GEO) df. Davud MAMMADOV (AZE), 3-1

BRONZE: Maksym RADYK (UKR) vs. Ararat VARDERESYAN (ARM), 12-1
BRONZE: Ibrahim OZDEMIR (TUR) df. Arvin KHOSRAVY (USA), 5-3

92kg
GOLD: Gor AYVAZYAN (GEO) df. Darius KIEFER (GER), 9-0

BRONZE: Cody MERRILL (USA) df. Marcell GYURICZA (HUN), 3-1
BRONZE: Hamidreza KESHTKAR (IRI) df. Riccardo BUFIS (ITA), via fall 

Women's wrestling

43kg
GOLD: Erica PASTORIZA (USA) vs RITIKA (IND)

SF 1: Erica PASTORIZA (USA) df. Arina ABDULLINA (KAZ), 12-2
SF 2: RITIKA (IND) df. Anastasiia POLSKA (UKR), 7-0

49kg
GOLD: Ruzanna MAMMADOVA (AZE) vs Mihoko TAKEUCHI (JPN)

SF 1: Ruzanna MAMMADOVA (AZE) df. Aiymgul ABYLOVA (KAZ), 10-0
SF 2: Mihoko TAKEUCHI (JPN) df. Fabiana RINELLA (ITA), 12-1

57kg
GOLD: Sowaka UCHIDA (JPN) vs Gerda TEREK (HUN)

SF 1: Sowaka UCHIDA (JPN) df. Ulmeken ESENBAEVA (UZB), via fall
SF 2: Gerda TEREK (HUN) df. Tuba DEMIR (TUR), via fall

65kg
GOLD: Anju SATO (JPN) vs Maria PANTIRU (ROU)

SF 1: Anju SATO (JPN) df. Zharkynai NURLAN KYZY (KGZ), 6-5
SF 2: Maria PANTIRU (ROU) df. Viktoria FOELDESIOVA (SVK), 8-2

73kg
GOLD: Mariia ZENKINA (UKR) vs Priya MALIK (IND)

SF 1: Mariia ZENKINA (UKR) df. Makoto KOMADA (JPN), via fall
SF 2: Priya MALIK (IND) df. Alina YERTOSTIK (KAZ), via fall

#WrestlePontevedra

Begenjov wins Turkmenistan's historic world title in Freestyle

Saturday, September 7, 2024 - 23:12 By Vinay Siwach

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PONTEVEDRA, Spain (September 7) -- After falling agonizingly short of a World Championship medal two years in a row, Alp BEGENJOV (TKM) made amends in the most impressive way possible -- winning Turkmenistan's first-ever world title in Freestyle.

Begenjov won the gold medal in 79kg weight class at the U20 World Championships in Pontevedra, Spain on Saturday, becoming the first Freestyle world champion of his country. It is only the second time Turkmenistan has won a gold medal at any World Championships. Shorat KHODAYEV (TKM) won a U17 world gold in 1994.

"It was my dream," Begenjov said. "I made my dream come true. I’ve become a world champion. It’s the first time in the history of my country [in Freestyle]."

Begenjov had competed at the U17 World Championships in 2022 and 2023, finishing 12th and fifth respectively. This year, he finished fifth at Asian Championships, 12th at the Asian Olympic Qualifiers and won bronze at the U23 Asian Championships. The loss at the Asian Championships hurt Begenjov.

"I was so disappointed after losing at the Asian Championships," he said. "I started training harder and last month I won the U20 Asian Championships and now the World Championships."

Not only did he win gold, Begenjov did so without conceding a point in the tournament. He outscored his opponents 46-0, including the 5-0 win over Jackary RYDER (USA) in the final.

He led 1-0 at the break after Ryder failed to score after being put on the activity clock. Begenjov used his fake attacks to keep Ryder on check and scored a stepout to extend his lead to 2-0.

Ryder did get on Begenjov's leg a couple of times but failed to finish those attacks. On one occasion, Ryder was trying to lift after a single-leg attack but Begejnov grabbed Ryder's leg and he fell on his back, giving up two points as Begenjov extended his lead to 4-0. A lost challenge made it 5-0.

The 18-year-old plans to compete at the U23 World Championships but doesn't plan to compete at the senior level yet.

"I have to train harder to repeat this and win the senior world title," he said. "I am physically not strong enough yet for senior level."

Trained by his uncle in Ashgabat, Begenov graduated from school earlier this year and joined the university.

"I will start my first year," he said. "I will study stock exchange. We have this faculty in Turkmenistan."

Apart from Ryder's silver medal, the United States won gold and three bronze medals. Luke LILLEDAHL (USA) upgraded his silver from last year to gold, winning the 57kg weight class by beating Lev PAVLOV (AIN) in the final.

This was Lilledahl's fourth straight age-group world final after he made two at U17 level and one at U20. He won silver in 2021 and upgraded to gold in 2022 at the U17 Worlds.

In the final against Pavlov, who he had beaten on his way to the final last year in Amman, Lilledahl got two activity points while Pavlov got one. Pavlov failed to find a perfect opening to score a point in the final seconds and dropped the final 2-1.

"When I wrestled him before, it was a lot more wide open," Lilledahl said. "With it being the finals [this year], he would kind of just wrestle to win. That's what you have to do. You're here to win. 

"That's pretty much what I figured would happen. He doesn't really like to create a lot of action, which kind of plays against me because I like the action. It was a stylistic matchup. Having wrestled him before, we kind of knew each other and knew how each other felt and stuff like that."

Aitmukhan adds U20 title

World champion at 92kg Rizabek AITMUKHAN (KAZ) gave the U20 World Championships a try and went home with a gold medal. Aitmukhan became Kazakhstan's first Freestyle world champion at the senior level last year at 92kg in Belgrade.

By winning the 97kg gold medal in Pontevedra, Aitmukhan as became only the fourth wrestler from Kazakhstan, and first in 24 years, to win a gold in Freestyle at U20 World Championships.

Aitmukhan was so dominant in the final that Khetag KARSANOV (AZE) could not stop him from winning the final 10-0.

Ali KHORRAMDEL (IRI)Ali KHORRAMDEL (IRI) completes a takedown in the 65kg final. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Jake Kirkman)

Iran won the gold medal at 65kg as Ali KHORRAMDEL (IRI) shut out Makoto HOSOKAWA (JPN), and won the final 10-2. Khorramdel lost his semifinal to Eldar AKHMADUDINOV (AIN) last year but won a bronze medal in the 61kg weight class.

The U20 Asian champion had a difficult path to the final as he had to make a comeback in his opening bout against Abdullah TOPRAK (TUR), winning 12-11. Aykhan ABDULLAZADA (AZE) also fought hard but lost 9-6 before Khorramdel hung on for a 6-4 win over Adam ARKHIEV (AIN) in the semifinals.

Hosokawa was displeased with his performance as Khorramdel blocked him from the right side and Hosokawa failed to score from his strong position. 

While Hosokawa lost, his Nippon Sports Science University teammate Ryoya YAMASHITA (JPN) won the gold medal at 70kg. Two days before his bouts, Yamashita had announced in the dining hall that he could "only see the gold medal". Yamashita made sure he took it home.

In a high-paced final, Magomed BAITUKAEV (AIN) failed to challenge Yamashita's speed and style and lost 6-0 in the 70kg final.

"This was my first international world tournament," Yamashita said. "I played with the intention of having fun and had a lot of fun. This is my goal for this year, but after competing, I realized that the senior world championships or the Olympics would be even more amazing. "

It was not all fun for Baitukaev on the mat as Yamashita showed his A game. Yamashita got the first point via stepout and earned a second when the 30-second activity clock against Baitukaev ended. Yamashita blasted a double in the second period to get two points and turned using head-in-middle lace to lead 6-0. Baitukaev had no energy left to attack and Yamashita won the gold medal.

Yamashita celebrated by gesturing like he was taking out the imaginary Samurai swords. 

"I came up with it when I was thinking of doing a performance based on Japanese culture," he said. "It's a Japanese tradition since ancient times. I did it because I admired it."

Yamashita trains with Olympic champions Rei HIGUCHI (JPN and Kotaro KIYOOKA (JPN) at NSSU and wants to replicate the success his teammates had.

"I realized that what I was doing was correct," he said. "It was a great environment to have someone close to me that I was aiming for. I was really moved by watching the matches. I was inspired by that."

For him to be at the Olympics, Yamashita will have to wait at least four years and jump to 74kg to make the team for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympic Games.

"I'm still thinking about it, but I guess I can only be 74kg to qualify for the Olympics," he said "I would like to be at 74kg for Los Angeles."

RESULTS

57kg
GOLD: Luke LILLEDAHL (USA) df. Lev PAVLOV (AIN), 2-1

BRONZE: Luka GVINJILIA (GEO) df. Myktybek UKIMETULY (KAZ), 4-1
BRONZE: ANKUSH (IND) df. Hayko GASPARYAN (ARM), 6-2

65kg
GOLD: Ali KHORRAMDEL (IRI)  df. Makoto HOSOKAWA (JPN), 10-2

BRONZE: Bowen BASSETT (USA) df. Nikoloz BESHIDZE (GEO), 10-0
BRONZE: Adam ARKHIEV (AIN) df. Abdullah TOPRAK (TUR), 4-1

70kg
GOLD: Ryoya YAMASHITA (JPN) df. Magomed BAITUKAEV (AIN), 6-0

BRONZE: Ali KARAMPOUR (IRI) df. Goga OTINASHVILI (GEO), via fall (9-0) 
BRONZE: Peter DUKE (USA) df. Aikyn BOLATULY (KAZ), 18-7

79kg
GOLD: Alp BEGENJOV (TKM) df. Zackary RYDER (USA), 5-0

BRONZE: Leandro ARAUJO (BRA) df. Said SAIDULOV (AIN), 5-4
BRONZE: Mahdi YOUSEFI (IRI) df. AMIT (IND), 13-2

97kg
GOLD: Rizabek AITMUKHAN (KAZ) df. Khetag KARSANOV (AZE), 10-0 

BRONZE: Justin RADEMACHER (USA) df. Nikolaos KARAVANOS (GRE), 10-0
BRONZE: Adam JAKSIK (SVK) df. Rifat GIDAK (TUR), 2-1

Semifinals

61kg
GOLD: Masanosuke ONO (JPN) vs. Ebrahim KHARI (IRI)

SF 1: Masanosuke ONO (JPN) df. Marcus BLAZE (USA), 7-2
SF 2: Ebrahim KHARI (IRI) df. Abdinur NURLANBEK (KAZ), 6-4

74kg
GOLD: Ali REZAEI (IRI) vs. Ladarion LOCKETT (USA)

SF 1: Ali REZAEI (IRI) df. Shingo ANDO (JPN), 10-0
SF 2: Ladarion LOCKETT (USA) df. Aghanazar NOVRUZOV (AZE), 3-1

86kg
GOLD: Ibragim KADIEV (AIN) vs. Joshua BARR (USA)

SF 1: Ibragim KADIEV (AIN) df. Abolfazl RAHMANI (IRI), 12-2
SF 2: Joshua BARR (USA) df. Ahmet YAGAN (TUR), 10-0

92kg
GOLD: Sali SALIEV (BUL) vs. Mustafagadzhi MALACHDIBIROV (AIN)

SF 1: Sali SALIEV (BUL) df. Connor MIRASOLA (USA), 5-4
SF 2: Mustafagadzhi MALACHDIBIROV (AIN) df. Kamil KURUGLIYEV (KAZ), 5-0

125kg
GOLD: Amirreza MASOUMI (IRI) vs. Benjamin KUETER (USA)

SF 1: Amirreza MASOUMI (IRI) df. Hakan BUYUKCINGIL (TUR), 3-1
SF 2: Benjamin KUETER (USA) df. Nambardagva BATBAYAR (MGL), 13-3