#BudaWrestle2018

Russia Goes 3-for-3 in Quarterfinals, Aleksanyan Rallies to Reach Semifinals

Saturday, October 27, 2018 - 13:35 By Andrew Hipps

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BUDAPEST, Hungary (October 27) -- Russia went 3-for-3 in the Greco-Roman quarterfinals on Saturday, advancing Aleksandr CHEKHIRKIN (77kg), Musa EVLOEV (97kg) and Sergey SEMENOV (130kg) to the semifinals at the World Championships in Budapest, Hungary. 

After winning his first match, the 32-year-old Chekhirkin faced a tough round to the semifinals at 77kg. In his second match he battled returning world champion Viktor NEMES (SRB) and prevailed 2-1. He then blanked two-time world bronze medalist Elvin MURSALIYEV (AZE) 3-0 in the quarterfinals at 77kg. 

Evloev, a returning world silver medalist, picked up victories over Kyrgyzstan and Iran to reach the 97kg quarterfinals against Luillys PEREZ MORA (VEN). The Russian captilized on a first-period passivity and locked up a throw for two points to give him a 3-0 lead. The score would remain that way the rest of the match, giving Evloev a spot in the semifinals.

The Olympic bronze medalist Semenov threw Oscar PINO HINDS (CUB) in his quarterfinal match to earn a second-period fall. 

Artur ALEKSANYAN (ARM) remains on track in his quest for his fourth world title to go along with an Olympic gold in 2016, but it didn't come without a scare. After opening with a 5-1 win over Nikoloz KAKHELASHVILI (ITA), Aleksanyan faced Felix BALDAUF (NOR) in his next match. 

Baldauf dominated Aleksanyan in the early part of the match and took a 6-0 lead into the break. But the Armenian star came back late, using a pinch headlock to score four points and cut the deficit to 6-4. He then scored with three consecutive gut wrenches to build a four-point lead and grab a 10-6 win. In the quarterfinals, Aleksanyan trailed Revazi NADAREISHVILI (GEO) 1-0 at the break but came back to win 4-3. 

Aleksanyan will face Evloev in the semifinals at 97kg. The other semifinal at 97kg will pit Kiril MILOV (BUL) against Mihail KAJALA (SRB).

Milov was impressive in the quarterfinals, using two throws in the first minute to roll to a 9-0 technical fall over Laokratis KESIDIS (GRE). Milov first threw Kesidis for five points before using a headlock to close out the technical fall. Kajala controlled Ondrej DADAK (CZE) 5-1 in the quarterfinals.

At 130kg, two-time world champion Heiki NABI (EST) made a strong run to the semifinals, beating three-time world champion Riza KAYAALP (TUR) 2-1 in his first match before punching his ticket to the semifinals with a 2-1 win over Yasmani ACOSTA FERNANDEZ (CHI) in the quarterfinals to set up a semifinal match against Semenov. 

Adam COON (USA), a past junior world bronze medalist, advanced to the semifinals at 130kg with three falls. In the quarterfinals, Coon came back to earn a fall over Eduard POPP (GER). Popp led 3-1 late in the opening period before Coon used a body lock to throw Popp to his back for a fall. The American now meet Minseok KIM (KOR) in the semifinals. Kim scored a takedown with a little over a minute left in the match help him edge Alin CIURARIU (ROU) 3-2.

At 77kg, 2012 Olympic champion Hyeonwoo KIM (KOR) used a four-point body lock on his way to an 8-0 technical fall over returning world bronze medalist Fatih CENGIZ (TUR) in the quarterfinals. His opponent in the semifinals will be Tamas LORINCZ (HUN), a 2012 Olympic silver medalist and two-time world bronze medalist. The Hungarian blanked Bilan NALGIEV (UZB) 3-0 in the quarterfinals, scoring all three of his points off passivity.

Alex KESSIDIS (SWE) edged Igor BESLEAGA (MDA) 4-4 on criteria in a quarterfinal match at 77kg. Kessidis trailed 1-0 at the break but came out with a four-point throw early in the second period to take a 4-1 lead. The Moldovan mounted a late comeback but Kessidis held on for the win.

Semifinal Matchups

Greco-Roman

77kg
Hyeonwoo KIM (KOR) vs. Tamas LORINCZ (HUN) 
Alex KESSIDIS (SWE) vs. Aleksandr CHEKHIRKIN (RUS) 

97kg
Kiril Milenov MILOV (BUL) vs. Mihail KAJALA (SRB)
Musa EVLOEV (RUS) vs. Artur ALEKSANYAN (ARM)

130kg
Heiki NABI (EST) vs. Sergey SEMENOV (RUS)
Adam COON (USA) vs. Minseok KIM (KOR)
 

#WrestleBaku, #WrestleParis

Aliyev leads as Azerbaijan wins six Paris 2024 quota at European qualifier

Sunday, April 7, 2024 - 22:29 By Vinay Siwach

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BAKU, Azerbaijan (April 7) -- Haji ALIYEV (AZE) on the mat in front of a packed stadium in Baku for an Olympic spot. The fans cheered every time he scored. It only got louder as he inched towards victory. As the final whistle blew, Aliyev stretched his arms and fell on the mat even as the National Gymnastics Arena in Baku was defeaning.

Two-time Olympic medalist Aliyev, 32, qualified Azerbaijan for the Paris Olympics at 65kg with an entertaining 6-4 victory over European champion Islan DUDAEV (ALB). Aliyev was back.

Since winning the silver medal in the Tokyo Olympics, Aliyev has not dominated the 65kg weight class. He finished fifth at the 2022 World Championships and eighth at the 2023 edition.

Azerbaijan was losing confidence in its star as the Paris Olympics came closer with it still to earning a qualification. Aliyev was under pressure and his conditioning was being questioned. And a few youngsters were knocking on the door.

Yet, Aliyev entered the European OG Qualifier in Baku as the favorite. In front of the home crowd and as the captain of the Azerbaijan Freestyle team, Aliyev had to deliver.

After seeing off Khamzat ARSAMERZOUEV (FRA) and Niurgun SKRIABIN (AIN), Aliyev faced Dudaev for Paris qualification. Dudaev won the European Championships in Bucharest in February after defeating Gadzhimurad RASHIDOV (AIN).

He threatened to beat Aliyev, leading 3-0 at the break. But Aliyev managed to get on a single leg and score a takedown to close the gap to 3-2. He again hit the same shot and got a takedown before using the lace to make it 6-3. Dudaev tried hard but Aliyev was too good with his defense and only gave up a stepout for one up.

Azerbaijan will most likely give Aliyev the spot in Paris 2024, his third in his career. Aliyev will be looking to win his third Olympic medal after a bronze medal in Rio 2016 and a silver in Tokyo 2020.

The second Paris 2024 quota at 65kg was won by Goderdzi DZEBISASHVILI (GEO) who defeated Maxim SACULTAN (MDA), 2-1, in the other semifinal. The two wrestlers exchanged passivity but Sacultan was put on the activity clock in the second period, giving Dzebisashvili the criteria win. 

Aliyev's win was one of the five that Azerbaijan had to become the first country to win all six Freestyle Olympic quotas. Apart from Aliyev, Aliabbas RZAZADE (AZE), Turan BAYRAMOV (AZE), Osman NURMAGOMEDOV (AZE), Giorgi MESHVILDISHVILI (AZE) earned quotas.

Rzazade seemed in a hurry to be off the mat as he opened the scoring against former European champion Vladimir EGOROV (MKD). He kicked off the bout with a stunning ankle pick for a takedown in the first five seconds of the bout and tried to soak in the Baku pressure by pacing around the mat as Egorov took time to return to the center.

In the second period, Rzazade scored a stepout when Egorov was on the activity clock, giving Rzazade a 4-0 lead. Egorov scored a takedown and was given one more point for Rzazade's fleeing at the end but the Azerbaijan wrestler won 4-3 to win the quota at 57kg.

Former world bronze medalist Aryan TSIUTRYN (AIN) defeated Tokyo Olympian Georgi VANGELOV (BUL), 7-3, in a one-sided semifinal to earn the second quota at 57kg.

At 86kg, Nurmagomedov showed his skills to beat Vasyl MYKHAILOV (UKR), 4-1, to earn a qualification. He also defeated Ramazan RAMAZANOV (BUL) in the quarterfinals.

Wrestling internationally for the first time since 2021, Olympic and world bronze medalist Artur NAIFONOV (AIN) confirmed his Paris 2024 spot after a gritty 4-0 win over Vladimeri GAMKRELIDZE (GEO). In the quarterfinal, Naifonov held off European champion Dauren KURUGLIEV (GRE) 2-1.

Giorgi MESHVILDISHVILI (AZE) confirmed the qualification at 125kg after he defeated Alen KHUBULOV (BUL), 7-0. The other qualification went to Dzianis KHRAMIANKOU (AIN) who defeated Kamil KOSCIOLEK (POL), 9-2.

A last-minute replacement for Abdulrashid SADULAEV (IND), Alikhan ZHABRAILOV (AIN) still got the job done of qualifying after he defeated Illia ARCHAIA (UKR), 11-0 to earn the Paris 2024 quota.

The second spot at 97kg was won by Aliaksandr HUSHTYN (AIN) after his opponent Radoslaw BARAN (POL) pulled out due to an injury he suffered in the quarterfinal.

At 74kg, Turan BAYRAMOV (AZE) did let the ghost of past affect him as he held on to a 8-8 win over Frank CHAMIZO (ITA) in a thrilling bout.

Chamizo trailed 8-6 but got awarded two caution points and almost scored a takedown which was reverted on challenge and Bayramov got a criteria win and an Olympic quota.

Tokyo Olympic silver medalist Magomedkhabib KADIMAGOMEDOV (AIN) held on to a 3-2 win over European champion Taimuraz SALKAZANOV (SVK) to win the quota. All five points were technical points.

 

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RESULTS

57kg Paris Qualification Bouts
SF 1: Aliabbas RZAZADE (AZE) df. Vladimir EGOROV (MKD), 4-3
SF 2: Aryan TSIUTRYN (AIN) df. Georgi VANGELOV (BUL), 7-3

65kg Paris Qualification Bouts
SF 1: Goderdzi DZEBISASHVILI (GEO) df. Maxim SACULTAN (MDA), 2-1
SF 2: Haji ALIYEV (AZE) df. Islam DUDAEV (ALB), 6-4

74kg Paris Qualification Bouts
SF 1: Turan BAYRAMOV (AZE) df. Frank CHAMIZO (ITA), 8-8
SF 2: Magomedkhabib KADIMAGOMEDOV (AIN) df. Taimuraz SALKAZANOV (SVK), 3-2

86kg Paris Qualification Bouts
SF 1: Artur NAIFONOV (AIN) df. Vladimeri GAMKRELIDZE (GEO), 4-0
SF 2: Osman NURMAGOMEDOV (AZE) df. Vasyl MYKHAILOV (UKR), 4-1 

97kg Paris Qualification Bouts
SF 1: Alikhan ZHABRAILOV (AIN) df. Illia ARCHAIA (UKR), 11-0
SF 2: Aliaksandr HUSHTYN (AIN) df. Radoslaw BARAN (POL), via inj. def.

125kg Paris Qualification Bouts
SF 1: Dzianis KHRAMIANKOU (AIN) df. Kamil KOSCIOLEK (POL), 9-2
SF 2: Giorgi MESHVILDISHVILI (AZE) df. Alen KHUBULOV (BUL), 7-0