Military C'Ships

Russia Dominates Greco-Roman, Aliyev Tops Labazanov

By Ali Feizasa

MOSCOW (May 21) -- Just as in men’s Freestyle, Russia finished 2018 Greco-Roman world military championships with the top spot.

Complete with world and European medal winners, Russians sent a strong team to the event and collected six gold medals. The host country collected 209 points (6 gold,2 silver, 1 bronze) to win team title, Iran was runner up with 132 points(1 gold, 1 silver, 3 bronze) and Azerbaijan came third with 119 points (1 gold, 2 silver, 2 bronze).

55kg was the lone weight that the host country failed to win medal and Rudik MKRTCHYAN (ARM) grabbed gold by 7-6 victory over Amangali BEKBOLATOV (KAZ).

2016 European bronze medal winner Gambolat LOKIAEV scored two points against Murad MAMMADOV (AZE) in 60kg finale to repeat his title in 2016 world military championships.

Mohamad NOURBAKHSH who placed second in recent Iran team trials, beat Russian Sanal SEMENOV  4-3 in 63kg final match.

In 67kg, Alexey KIYANKIN (RUS) achieved his third medal in world military championships, downing Aslan POGHOSYAN (ARM) by tech fall, 9-0 in 67 kg finales.

Two weeks after winning European title, Adam KURAK (RUS) repeated title in world military championships.

KURAK earned 3-0 victory over Ulvu GANIZADE (AZE) in 72kg final bout to repeat his last year’s gold medal in the event.

77kg final match was the battle of former world champions as 2011 world champion Hasan ALIYEV (AZE) downed 2014 world champion Chingiz LABAZANOV (RUS), 6-2.

The fourth title of the host country was achieved by Imil SHARAFETDINOV as the Russian wrestler beat 2018 Asian champion Askhat DILMUKHAMEDOV (KAZ), 7-3 in 82kgfinale.

Sosruko KODZOKOV (RUS) collected fifth gold for Russia with a technical fall 13-4 victory over Iranian Arman ALIZADEH ABDVALI in 87kg.

In 97kg, 23 years old Elias KUOSMANEN (FIN) continued his progress and defeated Damian VONEUW (SUI) by 10-0 technical fall victory.

KUOSMANEN, a 2018 European bronze medal winner, spoiled Nikita MELNIKOV’s title defending in world military championships and the Finnish wrestler downed Russian 2013 world champion, 4-1 in semi final.

Vitalii SHCHUR (RUS) closed out the Greco-Roman competition with a 7-2 shutout over Balint LAM (HUN), 7-2 in hevy weight final match

2018 Greco-Roman World Military Wrestling

Team standings:

1- Russia 209 pts (6 gold,2 silver, 1 bronze)
2- Iran 132 pts (1 gold, 1 silver, 3 bronze)
3- Azerbaijan 119 pts (1 gold, 2 silver, 2 bronze)
4- Armenia 119 pts (1 gold, 1 silver, 3 bronze)
5- Kazakhstan 98 pts (2 silver, 2 bronze)

Results:

55kg
GOLD- Rudik MKRTCHYAN (ARM) df. Amangali BEKBOLATOV (KAZ), 7-6
BRONZE- Un Nam KWON (PRK) df. Moslem NADERI KHADEM (IRI) by FALL
BRONZE- A. NERGYIBATOR (MGL) df. JHON F. TIGREROS URBANO (COL) by forfeit

60kg
GOLD- Gambolat LOKIAEV (RUS) df. Murad MAMMADOV (AZE), 2-0
BRONZE- Ararat MANUCHARYAN (ARM) df. Bence KOVACS (HUN) by TF, 8-0
BRONZE- Shirzad BEHESHTI TALA (IRI) df. Abdennour LAOUNI (ALG), 3-1

63kg
GOLD- Mohamad NOURBAKHSH (IRI) df. Sanal SEMENOV (RUS), 4-3
BRONZE- Erik TORBA (HUN) df. Ammar ALNAJE (SYR) by TF, 8-0
BRONZE- Mirambek AINAGULOV (KAZ) df. Ismail ALIYEU (BLR) by TF, 9-0

67kg
GOLD- Alexey KIYANKIN (RUS) df. Aslan POGHOSYAN (ARM) by TF, 9-0
BRONZE- Yahor VLADYKA (BLR) df. Mate KRASZNAI (HIN) by TF, 9-0
BRONZE- Mamadassa SYLLA (FRA) df. Amin SURI (IRI), 5-5

72kg
GOLD- Adam JURAK (RUS) df. Ulvu GANIZADE (AZE), 3-0
BRONZE-Petros MANOUILIDIS (GRE) df. Siarhei BARADZIULIA (BLR), 11-5
BRONZE- Armen HAKOBYAN (ARM) df. Ibragim MAGOMADOV (KAZ), 5-5

77kg
GOLD- Hasan ALIYEV (AZE) df. Chingiz LABAZANOV (RUS), 6-2
BRONZE- Maxat YEREZHEPOV (KAZ) df. Tsimur BERDYIEU (BLR), 6-3
BRONZE- Tero HALMESMAKT (FIN) df. Shayan AFIFI (IRI), 2-0

82kg
GOLD- Imil SHARAFETDINOV (RUS) df. Askhat DILMUKHAMEDOV (KAZ), 7-3
BRONZE- Eduard SARGSYAN (ARM) df. Mehdi MOHAMADZADEH (IRI) by TF, 11-0
BRONZE- Rafig HUSEYNOV (AZE) df. Roland SCHWARZ (GER), 5-2

87kg
GOLD- Sosruko KODZOKOV (RUS) df. Arman ALIZADEH ABDVALI (IRI) by TF, 13-4
BRONZE- Adem BOUDJEMLINE (ALG) df, Ihar YARASHEVICH (BLR), 7-3
BRONZE- Islam ABBASOV (AZE) df. Maximilian REMENSPERGER (GER), 8-1

97kg
GOLD- Elias KUOSMANEN (FIN) df. Damian VONEUW (SUI) by TF, 10-0
BRONZE- Ali Akbar HEIDARI (IRI) df. Olzhas SYRLYBAY (KAZ), 4-0
BRONZE- Nikita MELNIKOV (RUS) df. Turman EYUBOV (AZE) by TF, 8-0

130kg
GOLD- Vitalii SHCHUR (RUS) df. Balint LAM (HUN), 7-2
BRONZE- Toannis KARGIOTAKIS (GRE) df. Nurdaulet OMIRBEKOV (KAZ) by forfeit
BRONZE-Behnam MEHDIZADEH (IRI) df. Eduard POPP (GER) by FALL

#WrestleParis

Techniques, safety, focus: UWW referees ready for Paris 2024

By United World Wrestling Press

ATHENS, Greece (August 1) -- United World Wrestling referees for Paris 2024 completed a three-day seminar from June 21 to 23, hosted by the Greek Wrestling Federation in Athens. The seminar was held to prepare for the Olympics, where referees will be ITOs.

The program consisted of self and group analysis of previous performance, theoretical study, mental preparedness, medical and safety training as well as on-the-mat training with Women's Wrestling, Freestyle, and Greco-Roman wrestlers and coaching experts.

Led by the President of the UWW Athletes Commission, Arsen JULFALAKYAN, as well as coaches Alfred TER-MKRTCHYAN, Patrick NUDING and Amiran KARDANOV and wrestlers Maria PREVOLARAKI (GRE) and Christos KOUTSOURIDIS (GRE), referees analyzed common wrestling techniques and tactics in all styles and the proper philosophy and mechanisms referees should utilize when evaluating these situations.

Referee seminar

During these sessions, Julfalakyan also emphasized concerns and questions he receives from wrestlers and how we can improve the communication between athletes and referees when discussing the application of the rules.

Mental strength training sessions were led by Holger KNOLL, a trained mental strength coach specializing in athlete training. His sessions focused on how referees can improve their concentration and focus before, during and after competitions.

Babak SHADGAN, President of the UWW Medical Commission, provided medical and safety training, with focus on the role a referee plays in injury prevention.

In addition to the referee's instruction, Tristan MORAD, UWW Sports Department Coordinator, provided a presentation on the logistics and schedule of the wrestling of Paris 2024.

United World Wrestling and the UWW Referee Commission graciously thank the Greek Wrestling Federation and its President, Stergios LEONKIS, and UWW Bureau Vice President, Theodore HAMAKOS and numerous volunteers for their organization and hospitality in hosting the seminar.