#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)

#development

Lithuanian Wrestling Federation conducts referee training before the Druskininkai Cup

By United World Wrestling Press

DRUSKININKAI, Lithuania (June 26) --- The Lithuanian Wrestling Federation conducted a Referee Training Course from June 15-18 in conjunction with the Druskininkai Cup. The course had 13 participants and was led by Karol LEBOWSKI (POL), UWW Referee Educator.

The first two days of the course were theoretical and focused on discussing the rules of wrestling and interpreting the evaluation of technical actions by analyzing Lithuanian wrestlers during championship competitions. The final two days of the course were the practical sessions. The referees had a chance to work the competition and directly apply their skills. They focused on working as a mat chairman and with the referee team. During those sessions, they were provided feedback and improvement by Mr. Lebkowski. “The course was very popular among the participants. During the course, they asked many questions, to which we searched for answers together by analyzing the regulations,” said Mr. Lebkowski.

The participants in the course also share their appreciation of the course. Many stated that they liked the practical part carried out on the mat the most. They had never before met with a practical discussion of the referee's movement on the mat and the cooperation between the referees. They were very satisfied with the training conducted.