#WrestleSofia

Russia Strikes Gold to Defeat Iran in Freestyle Team Race at #WrestleSofia

By Taylor Miller

Photo of Erfan Mohammad ELAHI (IRI) and Arip ABDULAEV (RUS).

SOFIA, Bulgaria – Russia produced three World champions on the final night of men’s freestyle action to edge out Iran by two points in the team race on Wednesday at the 2019 Cadet World Championships in Sofia, Bulgaria.

Winning gold medals at 51 kg, 60 kg and 71 kg, Russia collected 168 team points, while Iran went 1-2 in its gold-medal matches to finish with 166 points.

The first champion of the night for Russia was two-time U15 European champion Mukhamed KHANIEV (RUS). Wrestling at 51 kg, Khaniev defeated Zhakhongir AKHMAJANOV (KAZ), 10-5.

Following up Khaniev’s performance was Arip ABDULAEV (RUS), who is also a two-time U15 European champion.

Abdulaev won a crucial head-to-head over Iran’s Erfan Mohammad ELAHI (IRI), 9-6, in the 60 kg finals. The win was critical in helping push Russia past Iran in the team race.

Photo of Marc-Anthony MCGOWAN (USA).       

At the very next weight, 71 kg, Soslan TIGIEV (RUS) wrapped up his first World tournament with a Cadet World championship, defeating 2017 U15 Balkan champion Krisztian BIRO (ROU) in a 13-11 shootout.

Iran did win a gold medal at 92 kg as 2019 Cadet Asian champion Soheyl YOUSEFI SANGANI (IRI) outlasted Zagid KARIMOV (RUS), 3-1.

In the 43 kg gold-medal bout, 2018 Cadet Pan American freestyle and Greco-Roman champion Marc-Anthony MCGOWAN (USA) won the first medal of the tournament for the United States with a late takedown over 2019 Cadet Asian champion Ali Mehran ARAB FIROUZJAEI (IRI) for a 3-1 win.

Rounding out the top-five in the team race was India with 106 points, Japan with 83 points and USA with 78 points.

Finals results
45 kg
GOLD - Marc-Anthony MCGOWAN (USA) dec. Ali Mehran ARAB FIROUZJAEI (IRI), 3-1
BRONZE - Tolga OZBEK (TUR) dec. Suraj Sanju ANNIKERI (IND), 8-6
BRONZE - Murad HAGVERDIYEV (AZE) dec. Vladislav NIKANDROV (KGZ), 10-8

51 kg
GOLD - Mukhamed KHANIEV (RUS) dec. Zhakhongir AKHMAJANOV (KAZ), 10-5
BRONZE - Ato MARUYAMA (JPN) dec. Sunil SUNIL (IND), 3-2
BRONZE - Mykyta ABRAMOV (UKR) dec. Ali Abolfazl GHOLI ZADEGAN KOLOUKHI (IRI), 5-3

60 kg
GOLD - Arip ABDULAEV (RUS) dec. Erfan Mohammad ELAHI (IRI), 9-6
BRONZE - Yoshinosuke AOYAGI (JPN) df. Farhad KARIMLI (AZE), injury default
BRONZE - Viktor TASHOHLO (UKR) dec. Daviti ABDALADZE (GEO), 5-2

71 kg
GOLD - Soslan TIGIEV (RUS) dec. Krisztian BIRO (ROU), 13-11
BRONZE - Abolfazl VALIPOURKHATIR (IRI) dec. Kevin MAKOTA STROEM (SWE), 7-2
BRONZE - Alexander Joseph FACUNDO (USA) dec. Davit KUTCHUASHVILI (GEO), 5-2

92 kg
GOLD - Soheyl YOUSEFI SANGANI (IRI) dec. Zagid KARIMOV (RUS), 3-1
BRONZE - Bekzat TAZHI (KAZ) df. Gkivi BLIATZE (GRE), fall
BRONZE - Lyova GEVORGYAN (ARM) dec. Monu DAHIYA (IND), 7-4

Team standings
1. Russia – 168
2. Iran – 166
3. India – 106
4. Japan – 83
5. USA – 78
6. Uzbekistan – 68
7. Azerbaijan – 66
8. Ukraine – 59
9. Turkey – 58
10. Georgia – 54

 

#WrestleZagreb

Zagreb Open: Gray, Nichita lose; Jafarov pinned

By United World Wrestling Press

ZAGREB, Croatia (January 13) -- More Women's Wrestling action on day four of the Zagreb Open. 53kg, 57kg, 72kg and 76kg wrestlers will be on the mat. In Greco-Roman, wrestlers from 63kg and 67kg will be in action.

WATCH LIVE | LIVE MATCH ORDER

14:50: A top semifinal to session the morning session as Parviz NASIBOV (UKR) pins world silver medalist Hasrat JAFAROV (AZE). Jafarov failed to score from par terre and challenged for leg foul. It was called clean, giving Nasibov a 1-1 criteria lead. Jafarov scored a stepout to lead 2-1 at the break. Nasibov gets the criteria back in the second period as Jafarov is called passive. Nasibov was happy to hold the criteria but referee calls for third passivity and Nasibov is put in par terre. As Jafarov tries the guy wrench, Nasibov stopped him and held to secure the pin

14:35: Aiperi MEDET KYZY (KGZ) into the final at 76kg. She will take on Juan WANG (CHN) for the gold medal. At 53kg, Qianyu PANG (CHN) with a superb arm throw and then pins Min ZHANG (CHN).

14:30: Not to be for Anastasia NICHITA (MDA)! The world silver medalist at 57kg falls to Asian Games bronze medalist Kexin HONG in a close 3-2 semifinal. Leading 1-1 on criteria, Nichita wasn't able to stop Hong from a late takedown.

14:20: 63kg world champion Leri ABULADZE (GEO) survives a tough semifinal against TIBILOV (SRB). Abuladze led 5-1 after two turns from par terre but was cautioned for blocking and a stepout from Tibilov made it 5-3. Tibilov scored a takedown with a second left to make it 5-5 but Abuladze had the criteria.

14:15: Juan WANG (CHN) upsets another American wrestler! Kennedy BLADES (USA) was leading 3-1 with 20 seconds left on the clock but Wang sprung into action and scored a takedown to win 3-3 at 76kg.

14:00: Adeline GRAY (USA) and Aiperi MEDET KYZY (KGZ) coming out on Mat B for their quarterfinal at 76kg. Medet Kyzy on a single and trips Gray for four! Another single-leg attack for a takedown. Medet Kyzy makes it look so easy. A 10-0 technical superiority for the world silver medalist over the bronze medalist

13:45: Juan WANG (CHN) with a top win over Kylie WELKER (USA). She built an early lead and scored a takedown late in the match to rule out Welker who scored five points. Wang moves into the semis with an 8-5 win.

13:30: Qianyu PANG (CHN) has been on a roll today. She is into the 53kg semifinals with an 8-0 win over Annika WENDLE (GER). Up next is Min ZHANG (CHN) who, incidentally, also defeated a German wrestler, Anastasia BLAYVAS (GER), via fall to reach the semis. 

13:05: Gagik SNJOYAN (FRA) with a 10-0 win over NEERAJ (UWW). That match is followed by Danial SOHRABI (IRI) falling to Kristupas SLEIVA (LTU) 7-1. He failed to score from two par terre advantages he got. Hasrat JAFAROV (AZE) blanks Niklas OEHLEN (SWE) 9-0.

12:45: Aiperi MEDET KYZY (KGZ) with another fall. She moves into the quarterfinals after pinning Justina DI STASIO (CAN). Next up is Adeline GRAY (USA).

12:35: Adeline GRAY (USA) looks like returning to her best since her comeback at the World Championships. She holds off Yuanyuan HUANG (CHN) 4-0 to move into the quarterfinals at 76kg.  

12:15: Karla GODINEZ (CAN) and Dominique PARRISH (USA) moving on at 53kg. Godinez with a win over Haley AUGELLO (USA) while Parrish gets a walkover from Lucia YEPEZ (ECU)

WW - 53 kg1/8 Final455(SRI) Nethmi Ahinsa Fernando PORUTHOTAGE (18)(CHN) Min ZHANG (19)

11:50: U20 world champion Moustafa ALAMELDIN (EGY) with a big throw in the second period to beat Morten THORESEN (NOR) 4-1 at 67kg and move to the next round

11:45: Parviz NASIBOV (UKR) and Hasrat JAFAROV (AZE) get going with easy wins. Nasibov got the better of HUSIYUETU (CHN) while Jafarov beat Alejandro SANCHO (USA) at 67kg. 

11:10: Danial SOHRABI (IRI) has made it a habit of living on the edge. Put in par terre, he gave up three turns as Haavard JOERGENSEN (NOR) led 7-1 at the break. Sohrabi didn't score any points when Joergensen was put in par terre but the Norweigen's conditioning was not up to the mark for the six minutes as Sohrabi five stepouts in the last 90 seconds to win 8-7.

10:45: Samar HAMZA (EGY) suffers a shock 3-2 loss to Kamile GAUCAITE (LTU) at 76kg. Just could not get going in her attacks. World silver medalist Aiperi MEDET KYZY (KGZ) with a fall over Rita TALISMANOVAAA (AIN)

10:30: Down goes the European champion Jonna MALMGREN (SWE) as Min ZHANG (CHN) builds a strong 8-2 lead before winning 12-6. On Mat C, young prodigy Mariia YEFREMOVA (UKR) with a 10-6 win over Ekaterina VERBINA (AIN).

10:15: Electric start to the day as world bronze medalist Lucia YEPEZ (ECU) and Nina HEMMER (GER) put on a show. Yepez pulls off an 11-9 win at 53kg. Little later, Qianyu PANG (CHN) pins Christianah OGUNSANYA (NGR).

10:00: Welcome to the fourth day of the Zagreb Open Ranking Series. Adelaine GRAY (USA),