Russia Delights Ufa with 3 GR Gold Medals

Saturday, August 21, 2021 - 16:49 By

UFA, Russia (August 21) -- Russia did not win the team titles in freestyle and women's wrestling but they virtually confirmed the Greco-Roman title at the Junior World Championships after winning three gold medals Saturday.

In a dominating performance at the Ufa Arena, Russia won the titles at 63kg, 77kg and 87kg while Iran captured the gold at 55kg while Turkey won the 130kg gold medal.

But it was special for Said BAKAEV (RUS) who won the top medal in front of his home crowd in Ufa. In an emotional final, Bakaev defeated two-time junior Euro champion Diego CHKHIKVADZE (GEO) 9-0 in the first period.

Bakaev went for a throw from the standing position to get two points but Russia challenged the call and asked for four points. The jury reviewed the call and Russia won the challenge. Bakaev then scored a stepout. A final takedown gave Bakaev two more points and won 8-0. Georgia lost the challenge, giving one more point and Bakaev won 9-0 in the first period.

"I can’t explain what I feel," Bakaev said. "The Georgian wrestler is a tough opponent but maybe I was better prepared mentally this time.

"I realize that I became the best in the world. As soon as I go down from the podium, I am a just an athlete and I have to start training all over again. It’s just a junior Worlds, I have to aim for the senior Worlds."

Bakaev explained that he prepared well for the tournament, both on the mat and mentally.

"The coaches told me to go on the mat and get the gold medal," he said. "They told me it was my place and that I deserved it. Mental preparation is really I important for such big tournaments."

Russia's success at the tournament was one thing that Bakaev was excited about and said that the team was better than anyone else.

"In Russia we train really hard," he said. "We are almost never at home. We stay home for a week and then back to the training camp. I am sure we are better than the others. There is no need to be afraid. The others should be afraid of us."

Islam Aliev

More metal was collected by Russia as Islam ALIEV (RUS) won the gold medal at the 77kg. He was wrestling Exauce MUKUBU (NOR), who had finished fifth at the last junior Worlds. Aliev never let Mukubu take control of the bout.

As Mukubu began pressuring Aliev early in the match, the Russian positioned himself in a better way and used underhooks and momentum to score points. Aliev scored the first takedown on the edge to lead 2-0 and then another two when Mukubu tried throwing but failed to expose. In all of one minute, Aliev captured the gold with a arm-bundle to arm spin throw for four points.

The quick finish was something he had on his mind before even stepping on the mat and the crowd made it special.

"I was going to the mat to finish the match ahead of time," Aliev said. "The World Championships was great for me. I loved the fans and the atmosphere."

Amriev

The third gold for Russia was won by Adlan AMRIEV (RUS) as he defeated Tyrone STERKENBURG (NED) 5-1 in the 87kg final. Netherlands were hoping for their first Greco-Roman world champ in 43 years but Amriev had other plans.

He began with a stepout and then got another point for Sterkenburg's passivity. He managed to get a throw from par terre. Sterkenburg scored a point for reversal but another stepout for Amriev extended his lead to 5-1 which was also the final score of the bout.

Wrestling in front of his home fans made Amriev feel the pressure but winning in front of home crowd was big motivation for him.

"On the one hand, I felt the support, but on the other, I could feel the pressure as well," he said. "When I wrestle, I never tell anybody about it. This time all my family, friends knew that.

"Some of them are watching the matches at home on TV, a lot of them are here watching at the venue. I am from Ufa, so many people came here today. Thanks a lot to all of them."

Back in 2019, Russia won four gold, two silver and one bronze medal but Amriev believes this year that record will be shattered and three more Russian wrestlers are going for gold Sunday.

"I think our generation will set a new record. We already have 3 gold medals and one bronze there are 3 more wrestlers in the final," he said.

DEHBOZORGI

Iran made sure they get a Greco-Roman world champion as Amirreza DEHBOZORGI (IRI) defeated Alimardon ABDULLAEV (UZB) 3-1 in a slow-paced 55kg final. But Dehbozorgi was tactically better than his Uzbek opponent.

Abdullaev got the 1-0 lead in the first period after Dehbozorgi was called passive but he managed to defend his par terre position. But when he got the advantage for Abdullaev's passivity, he then scored a takedown and led 3-1. He defended his lead till the clock expired.

Junior European champion Muhammet BAKIR (TUR) added a junior world title to his collection after he defeated Sarkhan MAMMADOV (AZE) 3-1 at 130kg. Bakir's win makes him a prospect to take over at the heavyweight weight class after three-time world champion Riza KAYAALP (TUR) retires.

The four points in the final came via passivity and stepouts but it was Bakir who scored three and Mammadov scored only one which gave Bakir the title.

3 More Russia Wrestlers in Finals

Russia is on a roll at the home Junior World Championships as three more wrestlers entered the Greco-Roman finals on the penultimate day of the competition.

Dinislam BAMMATOV (RUS), Evgeni BAIDUSOV (RUS) and Aleksei MILESHIN (RUS) all made it to the finals, increasing the number of Russian finalists to six and moving closer to the Greco-Roman team title.

Armenia managed to get two wrestlers in the finals as well while Iran, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Netherlands and Belarus also got one each in the final.

Bammatov, a silver medalist from junior Euros, defeated former cadet world champion Nihat MAMMADLI (AZE) 9-0 in the 60kg semifinals. It was a quick one as Mammadali was called passive and Bammatov went for two big four points from par terre to win the bout.

He will face another cadet world champion in Saeid ESMAEILI LEIVESI (IRI). He went past Arslanbek SALIMOV (POL) with an easy 8-0 win. The bout finished in the first period as Esmaeili Leivesi used a stepout and then finished the bout with three guts as Salimov was called passive.

At 72kg, Giorgi CHKHIKVADZE (GEO) will face Baidusov as he defeated Shant KHACHATRYAN (ARM) 8-1 in the semifinal. The junior Euro champ defended from par terre against the returning silver medalist and then scored eight points to win.

Baidusov's semifinal had 4:47 seconds left when he defeated junior Euro silver medalist Attila TOESMAGI (HUN) 8-0. He began with a takedown and come back with a big four using body lock. In the same move, he used a arm-trap to get the roll and the win.

Braxton AMOS (USA) was trying to become a double world champion after winning the freestyle title at 97kg but he hit the wall in the semifinals as Mileshin handed him a 9-0 defeat. Mileshin won the junior Euros this year and will look to win his first world title after finishing second at the cadet level.

It took him two minutes and 50 seconds to get a takedown, two guts and another takedown over Amos to win amid the cheers of the local crowd.

Pavel HLINCHUK (BLR) will challenge him in the final after he made it to the final two defeating Morteza ALGHOSI (IRI) 10-1. It was another powerful show from Hlinchuk as he used three guts and a takedown to finish the match.

A day after his twin brother made it to the final, Marcel STERKENBURG (NED) also made it to the final at 82kg and will wrestle Karen KHACHATRYAN (ARM).

Sterkenburg was wrestling Mykyta ALIEKSIEIEV (UKR) in the semifinal and attacked from the first go. When he got the par terre advantage, he managed to get the gut wrench to lead 3-0. He went for a big body lock and throw in the semifinal before a stepout finished the bout 8-0 with 2:28 seconds remaining.

Khachatryan had a similar bout as well and defeated Ravi MALIK (IND) 9-0 to book his spot in the final. Once Malik was called passive, the Armenian used three gut wrenches to lead 7-0 and a stepout. India challenged the final call but lost.

Another Armenian in the final was Sahak HOVHANNISYAN (ARM) who defeated Marian HOLUBOVSKYI (UKR) 3-0. The returning silver medalist from 60kg kept it simple against the Ukrainian as he got a point for passivity and his gut wrench made it 3-0. No points were scored in the second period.

He will face junior Euro champ Hasrat JAFAROV (AZE). In the semifinal, Jafarov was dominant against Gagik SNJOYAN (FRA) and won 10-0. Snjoyan was passive in the first period and gave up a gut wrench to trail 0-3.

A takedown and two rolls made it 9-0 for Jafarov and an out of bounds was called when the action finished, making the score 10-0 with 2:13 remaining.

GR Medal Bouts Results

55kg
GOLD: Amirreza DEHBOZORGI (IRI) df Alimardon ABDULLAEV (UZB), 3-1

BRONZE: Akyikat KULZHIGIT UULU (KGZ) df Aslamdzhon AZIZOV (TJK), 9-0
BRONZE: Elmir ALIYEV (AZE) df Iskhar KURBAYEV (KAZ), 3-1

63kg
GOLD: Said BAKAEV (RUS) df Diego CHKHIKVADZE (GEO), 10-0

BRONZE: Iman MOHAMMADI (IRI) df Manuel STOICA (ROU), 9-0
BRONZE: Niklas OEHLEN (SWE) df Ismail ORUCOGLU (TUR), 3-1

77kg
GOLD: Islam ALIEV (RUS) df Exauce MUKUBU (NOR), 8-0

BRONZE: Mohammadhossein AZARMDOKHT (IRI) df Emad ABOUELATTA (EGY), 8-4
BRONZE: Alexandrin GUTU (MDA) df Giorgi SHPETISHVILI (GEO), 8-0

87kg
GOLD: Adlan AMRIEV (RUS) df Tyrone STERKENBURG (NED), 5-1

BRONZE: Tansel ORTUCU (TUR) df Shakhriyor JURABOEV (UZB), 5-3
BRONZE: Oleksandr PRYMACHENKO (UKR) df Lachin VALIYEV (AZE), 3-1

130kg
GOLD: Muhammet BAKIR (TUR) df Sarkhan MAMMADOV (AZE), 3-1

BRONZE: Armen CHOLOKIAN (RUS) df Razmik KURDYAN (ARM), 3-1
BRONZE: Amirmohammad BAYAT (IRI) df Nikolaos NTOUNIAS (GRE), 6-3

GR Semifinal Results

60kg
GOLD: Dinislam BAMMATOV (RUS) vs Saeid ESMAEILI LEIVESI (IRI)

SF 1: Dinislam BAMMATOV (RUS) df Nihat MAMMADLI (AZE), 9-0
SF 2: Saeid ESMAEILI LEIVESI (IRI) df Arslanbek SALIMOV (POL), 8-0

67kg
GOLD: Sahak HOVHANNISYAN (ARM) vs Hasrat JAFAROV (AZE)

SF 1: Sahak HOVHANNISYAN (ARM) df Marian HOLUBOVSKYI (UKR), 3-0
SF 2: Hasrat JAFAROV (AZE) df Gagik Mishai SNJOYAN (FRA), 10-0

72kg
GOLD: Giorgi CHKHIKVADZE (GEO) vs Evgenii BAIDUSOV (RUS)

SF 1: Giorgi CHKHIKVADZE (GEO) df Shant KHACHATRYAN (ARM), 8-1
SF 2: Evgenii BAIDUSOV (RUS) df Attila TOESMAGI (HUN), 8-0

82kg
GOLD: Karen KHACHATRYAN (ARM) vs Marcel STERKENBURG (NED)

SF 1: Karen KHACHATRYAN (ARM) df Ravi MALIK (IND), 9-0
SF 2: Marcel STERKENBURG (NED) df Mykyta ALIEKSIEIEV (UKR), 8-0

97kg
GOLD: Aleksei MILESHIN (RUS) vs Pavel HLINCHUK (BLR)

SF 1: Aleksei MILESHIN (RUS) df Braxton AMOS (USA), 9-0
SF 2: Pavel HLINCHUK (BLR) df Morteza ALGHOSI (IRI), 10-1

#JapanWrestling

Motoki stuns Ozaki with last-second win in Japan's world team playoff

Sunday, June 22, 2025 - 11:52 By Ken Marantz

TOKYO (June 22) -- Each second that ticked off the clock left Paris Olympic champion Sakura MOTOKI that much further from a trip back to the World Championships and a chance to take care of some unfinished business.

But the final second was just enough for her to post arguably the most dramatic win of her life.

Motoki finished up a takedown at the buzzer to stun Nonoka OZAKI 6-5 in a world team playoff, following a close 3-3 victory over her fellow Paris Olympic medalist in the women's 62kg final at the Meiji Cup All-Japan Championships on Sunday in Tokyo.

"When she took back the lead, there was still 30 seconds left," Motoki said. "I train hard in practice every day, and deep down I knew, or at least thought, I could definitely get it. At the end, I gave it a last shot and was able to finish it off. As long as I kept attacking, there was always a chance."

The Meiji Cup was the second of Japan's domestic qualifiers for this year's World Championships in Zagreb in September. As the winner at the first qualifier, the Emperor's Cup All-Japan Championships last December, Ozaki could have secured her ticket to Zagreb by winning either the Meiji Cup final or the playoff.

Sakura MOTOKI (JPN) Sakura MOTOKI scores a match-winning takedown in the final second to defeat Nonoka OZAKI in the women's 62kg playoff. (Photo: Takeo Yabuki / wrestling-spirits.jp)

Instead it will be Motoki who will get a chance to make it to the top step of the world podium, after taking a bronze at 59kg in 2022 and a silver at 62kg in 2023 -- results that still leave a bad taste in her mouth that wasn't alleviated by her triumph in Paris.

Motoki and Ozaki already had a history when it comes to high-profile showdowns. At the start of the qualifying process for the Paris Olympics, Ozaki was the reigning world 62kg champion and the odd's-on favorite to secure the ticket to Paris.

But Motoki moved up from 59kg to 62kg and beat the odds and stunned the wrestling world by not only beating Ozaki at the 2022 Emperor's Cup, but also going on to qualify for Paris and take home a gold medal.

In the intervening years, Ozaki temporarily moved up to 65kg and won the world title at that weight in 2023. Then when the 68kg spot in Paris opened up, she took a shot at that, securing the berth with a last-second playoff win over Ami ISHII -- so unlike the one she experienced on Sunday with the shoe on the other foot.

Having taken a bronze in Paris, Ozaki was determined to regain the domestic throne at 62kg.

While all of Japan's Paris medalists took long post-Olympic hiatuses -- five of the eight gold medalists still haven't returned to competition -- Ozaki was the first one back in action, taking the title at the Emperor's Cup and a bronze at the Asian Championships in March.

Motoki returned to the mat for the Japan Junior Queen's Cup, but only needed one match to qualify for the World U23 Championships, taking just over a minute to win by fall. So she was still working out the kinks as she headed into the Meiji Cup.

"Compared to the Olympics, my wrestling is nowhere near as complete, and that made me a bit anxious," Motoki said. "But the wrestler I am now is stronger than the me of the past and I'm more confident going into matches. I was much stronger at the time of the Olympics. But I am still developing and from now will become a more complete wrestler and widen my range."

Motoki dug deep to defeat Ozaki as much on will as on technique.

Nonoka OZAKI (JPN) Sakura MOTOKI will get a chance to win a first world title after a dramatic victory over Nonoka OZAKI in the women's 62kg playoff. (Photo: Takeo Yabuki / wrestling-spirits.jp)

In the Meiji Cup final, Motoki received an activity point in the first period, then fell behind 3-1 when Ozaki scored a single-leg takedown while Motoki was on the clock. But with a minute to go, Motoki fended off a shot, launched a countershot and spun behind for a takedown that gave her a 3-3 win on last-point criteria.

Surprisingly or not, the playoff followed the exact same pattern. The only difference was that after Motoki went ahead 3-3, Ozaki came back and got a 2-point exposure during a single-leg attempt with 30 seconds left.

With :24 left, Motoki shot in on a low single that Ozaki stopped with a whizzer as the clockwound down. For all of the intricate movements involved, the final 10 seconds seemed to last forever:

-- Six seconds left. Motoki steps up and tries to drive forward, but Ozaki sits out and wriggles to the front, leaving Motoki in a double-leg position

-- Two seconds left. Motoki transitions to a single-leg, lifts up and drives with her left shoulder.

-- Ozaki lands on her side with a thud. The video replay on challenge shows her hitting the mat with "0.17" on the clock.

"She got out of it once and I wondered if I could get her leg," Motoki said. "At the end, I gave it everything I had and somehow managed to get it in time. It was just my body reacting."

Having won the world cadet (U17) title in 2017 and U20 in 2020, Motoki will get a chance to add the world u23 and senior titles in the coming months. That would make her just the third member of an elite group that has achieved the "Golden Grand Slam" of Olympic gold and all four world age-group titles, after Yui SUSAKI and Amit ELOR (USA).

But the gold in Zagreb is the one that most beckons. She has a reminder of it every morning to keep her from deviating from her mission.

"I have come up short at the World Championships twice, which is really vexing," Motoki said. "As the alarm on my smartphone to wake up in the morning, I use the music they play during the winning lap at the World Championships.

"Each time I hear it, it gives me an unpleasant feeling and makes me remember what happened. Even after I won at the Olympics, that sinking feeling never really went away."

Remina YOSHIMOTO (JPN) Remina YOSHIMOTO works to turn Umi ITO over during their women's 50kg playoff. (Photo: Takeo Yabuki / wrestling-spirits.jp)

Yoshimoto secures shot at world title

In other women's action on the final day at Tokyo Metropolitan Gym, Remina YOSHIMOTO took advantage of the absence of nemesis Susaki to win the 50kg gold and earn a shot at adding to the world title she won in 2021.

Yoshimoto went into the second period trailing 2023 world U23 champion Umi ITO, but got back on track and went ahead before ending the match by fall. It was the same pairing as the Emperor's Cup final, which Yoshimoto won 3-2.

Ito, who had lost all nine previous matches with Yoshimoto, took the lead with a takedown in the first period, countering a shot by getting on top and putting in a grapevine.

In the second period, Yoshimoto responded with a single-leg takedown, then used an arm bar to turn Ito over. Ito righted herself at one point, but Yoshimoto turned her over again and secured the fall at 4:19.

"At the start, Ito set the flow of the match and I didn't feel I was in control," Yoshimoto said. "This was the 10th time I've faced her, so we know each other and have each done our homework, and that made for a tough match. It was good that I kept my composure in the second period."

Since 2019, Yoshimoto has never been beaten either domestically and internationally by a wrestler not named Susaki, who has handed her all four of her losses in that span.

"It was frustrating that I couldn't get to the World Championships for four years," said Yoshimoto, who won a fourth Asian title this year. "I'm going to take advantage of this chance to get the gold medal. With the Los Angeles Olympics in mind, I want to practice so I can have a tournament that gives me confidence."

Himeka TAKUHARA (JPN) Himeka TOKUHARA launches a 4-point back suplex during her victory over Sae NANJO in the Meiji Cup final. (Photo: Takeo Yabuki / wrestling-spirits.jp)

At 57kg, 2022 world U23 champion Himeka TOKUHARA earned a ticket to her first senior worlds when she hit a 4-point roll through in defeating Emperor's Cup champion Sara NATAMI 7-1 in the playoff.

Tokuhara also had a 4-pointer with a masterful back suplex in the Meiji Cup final, in which she edged two-time former world U23 champion Sae NANJO 6-5. Tokuhara had defeated Natami, this year's Asian champion, 3-1 in the semifinals on Saturday.

Day 4 Results

Women's Wrestling

50kg (9 entries)
GOLD: Remina YOSHIMOTO df. Umi ITO by Fall, 4:19 (6-2)

BRONZE: Rinka OGAWA df. Mai OGAWA by TF, 10-0, 5:03
BRONZE: Miyu NAKAMURA df. Mako ONO by Def.

57kg (10 entries)
GOLD: Himeka TOKUHARA df. Sae NANJO, 6-5

BRONZE: Sara NATAMI df. Kanon YAMASHITA by Fall, 5:26 (6-7)
BRONZE: Ichika ARAI df. Momiji KIMURA, 8-0

World Team Playoff: Tokuhara df. Natami, 7-1

62kg (11 entries)
GOLD: Sakura MOTOKI df. Nonoka OZAKI, 3-3

BRONZE: Misuzu ENOMOTO df. Kiwa IWASAWA, 6-2
BRONZE: Yuzuka INAGAKI df. Shirin TAKEMOTO, 11-2

World Team Playoff: Motoki df. Ozaki, 6-5

Russia Delights Ufa with 3 GR Gold Medals

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Motoki stuns Ozaki with last-second win in Japan's world team playoff