#BudaWrestle2018

Russia Advances Pair to Finals, Stefanek Dominant

Friday, October 26, 2018 - 16:02 By Andrew Hipps

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BUDAPEST, Hungary (October 26) -- Sergey EMELIN and Artem SURKOV won their semifinal matches on Friday at the World Championships in Budapest to give Russia a pair of Greco-Roman finalists on Saturday. 

Emelin scored a first-period technical fall over surprise semifinalist Aidos SULTANGALI (KAZ) to reach the gold-medal match at 60kg. After scoring a point off a passivity, the 23-year-old Russian locked up a gut wrench and turned Sultangali four times for a 9-0 technical fall. 

He will meet Victor CIOBANU (MDA) in Saturday's gold-medal match at 60kg.

Ciobanu secured his first senior world medal by defeating Kristian FRIS (SRB) in the semifinals at 60kg. Fris jumped out to a 3-0 lead, but Ciobanu turned the tables from the bottom position and put Fris in trouble, nearly getting fall. Trailing by two in the second period, Ciobanu used a body lock and drove Fris to his back for four points, which proved to be the difference in the match. 

Surkov, a returning world bronze medalist, will upgrade his world medal after stopping the run of Meiirzhan SHERMAKHANBET (KAZ) at 67kg. Surkov won 3-1 in the semifinals, scoring all of his points came in the first period, earning a point off a passivity and then getting a turn using a high gut wrench. Awaiting him in the gold-medal match at 67kg is Olympic champion Davor STEFANEK (SRB). 

Stefanek used a big throw in the second period to close out a technical fall over Gevorg SAHAKYAN (POL) at 67kg. Stefanek led 4-0 at the break and used a turn to go up 3-0. An uncessful challenge gave Stefanek a 4-0 lead at the break. He then a locked up a throw thirty seconds into the period and put the match away. 

Metehan BASAR (TUR) stands one match away from winning a second straight world title after defeating Bekkhan OZDOEV (RUS) 2-1 in the semifinals at 87kg. Ozdeoev led 1-0 at the break, but surrendered his lead early in the second, giving Basar two points after a caution, which closed out the scoring in the match. 

In the other semifinal match at 87kg, Olympic silver medalist Zhan BELENIUK (UKR) defeated Islam ABBASOV (AZE) 5-1. Beleniuk took a 3-0 lead into the break after scoring a passivity point, which he followed up with a gut wrench. He added a late two off a caution to win by four. 

60kg
Victor CIOBANU (MDA) df. Kristian FRIS (SRB) by VPO1, 6-3
Sergey EMELIN (RUS) df. Aidos SULTANGALI (KAZ) by VSU, 9-0

67kg
Artem SURKOV (RUS) df. Meiirzhan SHERMAKHANBET (KAZ) by VPO1, 3-1
Davor STEFANEK (SRB) df. Gevorg SAHAKYAN (POL) by VSU, 8-0

87kg
Zhan BELENIUK (UKR) df. Islam ABBASOV (AZE) by VPO1, 5-1
Metehan BASAR (TUR) df. Bekkhan OZDOEV (RUS) by VPO1, 2-1
 

#WrestleBudapest

Must-watch storylines from Budapest Ranking Series

Tuesday, June 4, 2024 - 23:52 By Vinay Siwach

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BUDAPEST, Hungary (June 4) -- As the Budapest Ranking Series gets underway Thursday in the Hungary capital, a few intriguing storylines will be seen on the mats. Countries will be finalizing their Olympic line-ups, a few star wrestlers are returning to competition while others are competing for the ranking points.

Here are the top storylines that no wrestling fan should miss at the Budapest Ranking Series which will be live on uww.org using UWW+.

Iran's dilemma

A wrestle-off is set to be held by Iran in Budapest to decide on the Paris Olympic team. Tokyo Olympic champion Mohammadreza GERAEI (IRI) won the spot by winning bronze at the World Championships. But Saeid ESMAEILI LEIVESI (IRI) won the Asian Championships to lay his claim for the 67kg gold medal.

60kg will also see a wrestle-off as Mehdi MOHSEN NEJAD (IRI) is set to face Amirreza DEHBOZORGI (IRI) to decide who goes to the Paris Games.

Also, Mohammadali GERAEI (IRI) is wrestling!

Hassan YAZDANI (IRI)Hassan YAZDANI (IRI) will wrestle for the first time since winning gold medal at the Asian Games. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Sachiko Hotaka)

Yazdani returns

Undoubtedly Hassan YAZDANI (IRI) returning to competition is the big show in Budapest. Since winning the silver medal at the World Championships in Belgrade, Yazdani has wrestled only once, winning the gold medal at the Asian Games. A shoulder injury kept him out for eight months but Yazdani will be wrestling at 86kg on Thursday.

Before the Ranking Series, there were talks in Iran about a potential clash of Yazdani against 92kg world champion Kamran GHASEMPOUR (IRI) who is looking to make the Paris Olympic team for Iran. But Iran decided to send Yazdani alone and will assess his performance before deciding on a trial between the two.

Ziqi FENG (CHN)Ziqi FENG (CHN) gave a scare to Yui SUSAKI (JPN) in the Asian Championships final. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Amirreza Aliasgari)

China's problem of plenty

China rarely sends a portion of its team to the Ranking Series. But it has sent only five wrestlers for Budapest, all in Women's Wrestling. Three wrestlers are entered at 50kg and two at 57kg, expected for a wrestle-off.

Yu ZHANG (CHN), Jiang ZHU (CHN) and Ziqi FENG (CHN) are fighting for the Paris Olympic spot at 50kg. Feng won the quota for China by winning the bronze medal at the World Championships in Belgrade.

Qi ZHANG (CHN) and Kexin HONG (CHN) will wrestle off for the spot at 57kg. Hong won the quota at the Asian Olympic Qualifier in Bishkek. But Zhang, a world champion at 59kg, won the Asian Championships, a run that also had a win over Risako KINJO (JPN) in the first round.

Jamalov's switch

Razambek JAMALOV (UZB) has been waiting for his Uzbekistan debut which will finally happen in Budapest. Jamalov will take the mat at 74kg and can also face Bekzhod ABURKHAMANOV (UZB), meaning that their match can also be a wrestle-off.  Jamalov has not wrestled at an international event since finishing fifth at the 2021 European Championships but has previously shown that he can win against any top wrestler on his day.