#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)

#WrestleBelgrade

Olympic champs Sadulaev, Sidakov, Uguev headline AIN freestyle entries

By United World Wrestling Press

BELGRADE, Serbia (Spetember 12) --- Olympic champions Abdulrashid SADULAEV, Zaurbek SIDAKOV and Zavur UGUEV headline the Independent Neutral Athlete’s (AIN) roster for the 2023 World Championships in Belgrade, Serbia, September 16-24.

Each AIN athlete went through a rigorous vetting process by United World Wrestling in preparation for the Senior World Championships.

In total, 235 individuals from Russia and Belarus underwent thorough background and social media checks. This encompassed wrestlers across all styles and categories, as well as their accompanying support personnel. Out of the 235 names, 30 individuals were deemed ineligible due to either active support of the ongoing war or confirmed membership in military or national security agencies.

The decisions regarding eligibility were made by a panel, relying on comprehensive vetting reports provided by an independent and private intelligence service provider.

All athletes from Russia or Belarus will compete as Individual Neutral Athletes, without any flags or references to their respective countries. Additionally, the national anthems of Russia and Belarus will not be played in the event of medals being awarded to these athletes.

The 2023 World Championships kick off September 16-24, in Belgrade, Serbia. Fans can follow all the action live on UWW+, or on the "The Home of Wrestling," UWW's app.

Please note: United World Wrestling will continue monitoring the AIN athletes. This is an ongoing process and any new information regarding their eligibility is subject to change.

Independent Neutral Athlete’s (AIN) roster:
57kg - Zavur UGUEV
61kg - Abasgadzhi MAGOMEDOV
65kg - Shamil MAMEDOV
70kg - Evgenii ZHERBAEV
74kg - Zaurbek SIDAKOV
79kg - Akhmed USMANOV
86kg - Arslan BAGAEV
92kg - Magomed KURBANOV / Vladislav VALIEV
97kg - Abdulrashid SADULAEV
125kg - Abdulla KURBANOV