#Trnava2018

Russia Wins Fifth Gold Medal, Junior World Team Title

By Eric Olanowski

TRNAVA, Slovakia (September 23) – Russia closed out the 2018 Junior World Championships winning the freestyle team title on the backs of five individual gold medals. Heading into the final day of wrestling, the Russian Federation led the second-place United States by 31 points and finished 67 points ahead of the returning champions. 

Russia grabbed a trio of gold medals on the sixth day of competition and seized championships from Abasgadzhi MAGOMEDOV (RUS) and Soslan KHINCHAGOV (RUS) on the seventh day of wrestling at Trnava’s City Sports Hall. 

Abasgadzhi Magomedov improved his 2015 cadet runner-up finish, ending the 61kg finals bout early, grabbing the 10-0 technical superiority victory over Georgia’s Ramaz TURMANIDZE. 

The 2016 junior European champion technically and tactfully scored three takedowns via short drags, and two gut-wrenches, ending the gold-medal bout in 2:50. 

Soslan KHINCHAGOV (RUS), who was competing in his first age-level world championship since claiming the silver medal at the 2015 Cadet World Championships, shutout Aly BARGHOUT (CAN), 7-0 in the 125kg finals, giving Russia their fifth and final gold medal of the tournament. 

Overall, Russia capped off the 2018 Junior World Championships with seven medalists. In addition to their five gold medals, they also won a silver and bronze medal. Though they had seven medalists a year ago, there five gold medals are an improvement from last year’s four gold medals. 

Meanwhile, in his third career freestyle tournament, Mekhi LEWIS (USA) sealed the team silver medal for the United States with a 5-1 win over Abubakr ABAKAROV (AZE) in the 74kg finals.

Lewis trailed 1-0 in the opening period, surrendering a passivity point before scoring a takedown and stepout, controlling a 3-1 lead into the final period. In the second period, Lewis scored a brutality point and a second stepout to give America their first champion across any division of the 2018 Junior World Championships. 

In the 86kg gold-medal bout, Arif OZEN (TUR) stopped Deepak PUNIA (IND) from winning India’s first freestyle junior world gold medal since 2001. 

The Turkish wrestler struck first, scoring an early takedown, which ended up being the match-deciding takedown. Ozen gave up a stepout as time expired, but won the match, 2-1, giving Turkey their first freestyle gold medal of these championships.

Abbas Ali FOROUTANRAMI (IRI) put on a takedown clinic in the 92kg championships bout, blanking Alisher YERGALI (KAZ), 11-0.

After three-minutes, Foroutanrami commanded the 3-0 lead before firing off four takedowns in the second period to end the match with the technical superiority victory.   

RESULTS 

Team Scores 
GOLD – Russia (182 points)
SILVER – United States (115 points)
BRONZE –  Iran (98 points)
Fourth – Azerbaijan (91 points)
Fifth – India (84 points)

61kg
GOLD – Abasgadzhi MAGOMEDOV (RUS) df. Ramaz TURMANIDZE (GEO), 10-0 

BRONZE - Vazgen TEVANYAN (ARM) df. Abbos RAKHMONOV (UZB), 9 - 3
BRONZE - Syrbaz TALGAT (KAZ) df. Minsu CHO (KOR), 10-4 

74kg
GOLD - Mekhi Kevin LEWIS (USA) df. Abubakr ABAKAROV (AZE), 5-1 

BRONZE - Devid BETANOV (RUS) df. Sachin RATHI (IND), 11 - 1
BRONZE - Bat-Erdene BYAMBASUREN (MGL) df. Erik REINBOK (EST)

86kg
GOLD - Arif OZEN (TUR) df. Deepak PUNIA (IND), 2-1 

BRONZE - Seyedabolfazl HASHEMIJOUYBARI (IRI) df. Demur MEGENEISHVILI (GEO), 6 - 5
BRONZE - Patrik SZUROVSZKI (HUN) df. Ivan NEDEALCO (MDA)  

92kg 
GOLD - Abbas Ali FOROUTANRAMI (IRI) df. Alisher YERGALI (KAZ), 11-0 

BRONZE - Askhab HAMZATOV (AZE) df. Makhsud VEYSALOV (UZB), 9 - 3
BRONZE - Erhan YAYLACI (TUR) df. Khokh KHUGAEV (RUS), 7-3

125kg 
GOLD - Soslan KHINCHAGOV (RUS) df. Aly Medhat Abde BARGHOUT (CAN), 7-0 

BRONZE - Khasanboy RAKHIMOV (UZB) df. Amir Nader YARI (IRI), 6 - 4
BRONZE - Samhan JABRAILOV (MDA) df. Rahid HAMIDLI (AZE), 3-1

#WrestleHangzhou

Asian Games Wrestling: Amouzad beats Bajrang, Ozaki beats Tynybekova

By Vinay Siwach

LIN'AN, Hangzhou, China (October 5) -- The Asian Games will see Freestyle action on Friday as 57kg and 65kg wrestlers take the mat. Women's Wrestling will continue with 62kg, 68kg and 76kg weight classes.

LIVE MATCH ORDER | BRACKETS | DAY 2 RESULTS

Here are the finals for the evening session

WW 62kg
Hyon Gyong MUN (PRK) vs. Nonoka OZAKI (PRK)

WW 68kg
Nurzat NURTAEVA (KGZ) vs. Feng ZHOU (CHN)

WW 76kg
Aiperi MEDET KYZY (KGZ) vs Zhamila BAKBERGENOVA (KAZ)

FS 57kg
Toshihiro HASEGAWA (JPN) vs. Chongsong HAN (PRK)

FS 65kg
Tulga TUMUR OCHIR (MGL) vs Rahman AMOUZAD (IRI)

13:20: Rahman AMOUZAD (IRI) uses two big four-point moves to beat BAJRANG 8-1 in the 65kg semifinal. Tulga TUMUR OCHIR with a big fall over Kwang Jin KIM (PRK) to enter the final at 65kg. Rahman AMOUZAD vs Tulga TUMUR OCHIR for the gold medal.

13:00: Nonoka OZAKI (JPN) with a fall over Irina KUZNETSOVA (KAZ) to reach the 62kg final while Zhamila BAKBERGENOVA (KAZ) pins KIRAN to enter the 76kg final. She will wrestle returning bronze medalist Aiperi MEDET KYZY (KGZ)

12:50: Hyon Gyong MUN (PRK) pins SONAM to reach the final at 62kg while in Freestyle 57kg, Chongsong HAN (PRK) with a final second takedown to beat Bekzat ALMAZ UULU (KGZ) 3-2. He will face Hasegawa in the final.

12:45: AMAN's comeback in the semifinal falls short as Toshihiro HASEGAWA (JPN) closes out the match 12-10. Hasegawa led 6-1 but Aman made it 8-5. But a seatbelt move gave Hasegawa four points as he won 12-10.

12:30: Defending champion BAJRANG with a controlled 4-0 victory over Alibeg ALIBEGOV (BRN) to enter the semifinal against Rahman AMOUZAD (IRI). It will be a rematch of the 2022 Asian Championships final which Amouzad won 3-1

12:15: Defending Asian Games champion at 68kg Feng ZHOU (CHN) with a quick 10-0 win over KANHA CHEA (CAM). On Mat B, Hui Tsz CHANG (TPE) pins Seoyeon JEONG (KOR) at 76kg. Tulga TUMUR OCHIR won 6-0 to advance to the 65kg semifinals. 

12:10: Nonoka OZAKI (JPN) and Aisuluu TYNYBEKOVA (KGZ) going for their fifth encounter in two years. Both wrestlers have won two bouts each. Tynybekova is put on the activity clock and Ozaki will go into the break leading 1-0. Tynybekova has a solid defense to Ozaki's double-leg shot. Ozaki put on the activity clock. She scores a takedown as soon as the activity clock expires to lead 3-1. Tynybekova tries to score a takedown for the win but Ozaki defends the 3-1 lead to win.

12:00: Zhamila BAKBERGENOVA (KAZ) with a fall over Ariunjargal GANBAT (MGL) at 76kg. The two-time world silver medalist at 72kg is making her debut at 76kg at an international competition.

11:50: AMAN up on Mat B against Ebrahim KHARI (IRI) in the 57kg quarterfinals. Khari with the first takedown but Aman scores a reversal. Khari with the second takedown to make it 4-1. Solid underhook from Khari and he manages to make it 6-1 as Aman struggles with his defense. A slip from Aman and Khari goes behind to score another takedown 8-1. Aman with an outside single to close the gap 8-3 at the break. An exposure to start the second period and then a double leg counter from Aman. He comes out with a lace to lead 9-8. Another takedown for Aman 11-8. A medical break for Khari and he comes out blazing but he can't score. Aman will get the takedown to make it 13-8. Aman now making Khari pay for the high-pace of wrestling. Aman will come back from 8-1 down to win 19-8 at 57kg.

11:40: After the mini break, quarterfinal action resumes. Aiperi MEDET KYZY (KGZ), world silver medalist, pins Thi Linh DANG (VIE) at 76kg while Naruha MATSUYUKI (JPN) with a fall over Hyeonyeong PARK (KOR) at 68kg

11:20: KIRAN holds on to a 3-0 win over former U20 Asian champion Nodoka YAMAMOTO (JPN) to move to the 76kg semifinals.

11:10: Tulga TUMUR-OCHIR (MGL) with another 10-0 win. Rahman AMOUZAD (IRI) manages to see off Kaiki YAMAGUCHI (JPN) 2-1 in an absolutely no-action bout. He will move into the quarterfinals. On Mat B, BAJRANG, wrestling in his first bout in over a year, starts with a 10-0 win over RONIL TUBOG (PHI). He will take on Alibeg ALIBEGOV (BRN) in the 65kg quarterfinals.

10:47: Zhamila BAKBERGENOVA (KAZ) with a fall at 76kg, Nonoka OZAKI (JPN) with a 10-0 win at 62kg and U20 Asian champion Abdulmazhid KUDIEV (TJK) wins 11-0 against Alibek OSMONOV (KGZ) at 65kg. Things moving so fast here.

10:45: A DPR Korea wrestler advancing at the expense of a Chinese wrestler, again! Hyon Gyong MUN (PRK) led 3-1 against Jia LONG (CHN) before using an underhook throw to pin Long and advance at 62kg.

10:40: SONAM with a quick fall over Sushila CHAND (NEP) at 62kg but world champion Aisuluu TYNYBEKOVA (KGZ) is even quicker to pin SALINEE SRISOMBAT (THA)

10:35: Asian champion AMAN takes full six minutes to go past Sunggwon KIM (KOR) at 57kg. He scored two takedowns in his 6-1 win.

10:25: Former U23 world champion Toshihiro HASEGAWA (JPN) starts his 57kg campaign with a 7-0 win over Minghu LIU (CHN). A solid warm-up for the Japanese.

10:10: Rahman AMOUZAD (IRI) with a stepout before Abbos RAKHMANOV (UZB) scored a takedown and roll. Amouzad gets a reversal. A takedown to make it 4-4 with Rakhmonov leading on criteria. Amouzad with another takedown to take a 6-4 lead. Rakhmonov with a single leg and takedown to reclaim the criteria lead 6-6 with two minutes still on the clock. Amouzad with a cross double leg finish, 8-6 lead for Amouzad. Rakhmonov shoots but Amouzad jumps and comes behind to increase the gap to four points. Rakhmonov with some desperate attempts but Amouzad hangs on for a 12-6 win.

10:12: Tulga TUMUR OCHIR (MGL) has no trouble in beating Sanzhar MUKHTAR (KAZ) 10-0 with 36 seconds left on the clock. The underhook supremacy!

10:05: The first win of the day goes to Bekzat ALMAZ UULU (KGZ) as he takes three minutes and 30 seconds to beat Nattawut KAEWKHUANCHUM (THA) 10-0 at 57kg.

10:00: Welcome to day three of the Asian Games. Five weight classes, two in Freestyle and three in Women's Wrestling highlight the day. Rahman AMOUZAD (IRI), Tulga TUMUR OCHIR (MGL), Bajrang PUNIA, AMAN, Nonoka OZAKI (JPN), Aisuluu TYNYBEKOVA (KGZ), Feng ZHOU (CHN), Aiperi MEDET KYZY (KGZ) are some of the stars in action.