#Trnava2018

Rakhimov Sticks Three-Time World Champion Steveson

By Eric Olanowski

TRNAVA, Slovaia (September 22) - Uzbekistan’s Khasanboy RAKHIMOV shocked the wrestling world in the 125kg junior world quarterfinals, sticking three-time age-level world champion, Gable STEVESON (USA). 

In the opening period, Rakhimov, the 2018 junior Asian runner-up gambled big and his upper body confidence paid off. The 2015 cadet world runner-up went for a throw with double overhooks and threw Steveson to his back, picking up the fall at 1:42. 

Prior to Saturday’s quarterfinal loss, Steveson had never lost an international bout on his way to winning two cadet world titles and a junior world gold medal. 

Rakhimov will wrestle Russia’s Soslan KHINCHAGOV (RUS) for a spot in the 125kg finals. 

The 2018 Junior World Championships is Khinchagov’s first age-level tournament since taking the bronze medal in the 2015 Cadet World Championships. Since then, he's competed at five senior-level tournaments, where he’s won three medals. 

The semifinals begin at 17:15 and the finals will start at 18:00. 

Semifinals

61kg
Syrbaz TALGAT (KAZ) vs. Ramaz TURMANIDZE (GEO) 
Abbos RAKHMONOV (UZB) vs. Abasgadzhi MAGOMEDOV (RUS)

74kg
Sachin RATHI (IND) vs. Abubakr ABAKAROV (AZE) 
Mekhi Kevin LEWIS (USA) vs. Bat-Erdene BYAMBASUREN (MGL)

86kg
Arif OZEN (TUR) vs. Seyedabolfazl Seyedabbasali HASHEMIJOUYBARI (IRI) 
Deepak PUNIA (IND) vs. Ivan NEDEALCO (MDA) 

97kg
Makhsud VEYSALOV (UZB) vs. Alisher YERGALI (KAZ) 
Abbas Ali FOROUTANRAMI (IRI) vs. Khokh KHUGAEV (RUS)

125kg 
Soslan KHINCHAGOV (RUS) vs. Khasanboy RAKHIMOV (UZB) 
Rahid HAMIDLI (AZE) vs. Aly Medhat Abde BARGHOUT (CAN)

Russia, Belarus wrestlers to compete under UWW flag

By United World Wrestling Press

CORSIER-SUR-VEVEY, Switzerland (February 21) -- All eligible wrestlers from Russia and Belarus will now compete under United World Wrestling flag.

The UWW Bureau, which met on February 5, gave a green signal for wrestlers who previously competed under neutral flag as Individual Neutral Athletes, to compete under UWW Flag effective immediately. This also includes the staff of the two countries.

However, UWW will continue with UWW anthem for ceremonies with no reference to the flag, symbols, or coat of arms of Russia and Belarus will be authorized.

Furthermore, no team ranking will be considered of these two countries at any championships.

This is the third major update for eligibility of wrestlers from Russia and Belarus. UWW had announced the first set of eligibility criteria for Russia and Belarus wrestlers in 2023. The criteria was further revised in 2024 to state that only evidence of direct military participation in the war against Ukraine or public declarations [in written or orally] in support of the war and/or of their promoters or participants will be considered to declare an athlete as ineligible.