#WrestleNoviSad

Russians Outscore Day 6 Semifinal Opponents 34-0

Saturday, March 9, 2019 - 19:28 By Eric Olanowski

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NOVI SAD, Serbia (March 9) – Abasgadzhi MAGOMEDOV, Nikita SUCHKOV, Arsen-Ali MUSALALIEV, and Batyrbek TCAKULOV shutout their semifinal opponents 36-0 and extended Russia’s overall U23 European finalist streak to 18. Coming into the Day 6 semifinals, Russia had qualified 14 wrestlers for the finals, and the quartet of Day 7 finalists increased that total by four. 

Magomedov gave Russia their first Day 7 finalist after closing out his 61kg semifinals match with a trapped arm gut to defeat Azerbaijan’s Asgar MAMMADALIYEV, 10-0. 

He’ll take on Greece’s Georgios PILIDIS (GRE) in Saturday’s gold-medal match. Pilidis’ semifinal match against Valentyn BLIASETSKYI (UKR) was short-lived after the Greek wrestler bulldozed the Ukrainian wrestler 10-0 in less than two minutes. 

At 74kg, Russia’s second Day 7 finalist Nikita Suchkov, who will take on Slovakia’s Akhsarbek GULAEV for Sunday's gold, shutout Khachatur PAPIKYAN (ARM), 10-0. His finals opponent Gulaev edged Giorgi SULAVA (GEO), 9-8 after commanding the 9-0 lead. 

Like his two fellow countrymen finalist, Arsen-Ali Musalaiev also cruised in his semifinals bout. Musalaliev scored an 8-0 shutout win over Johannes Martin DEML (GER) and will meet Arif OZEN (TUR) in the 86kg finals. 

Batyrbek TCAKULOV (RUS) was the fourth Russian to blank his semifinals opponent when he picked up the 6-0 win over Bendeguz TOTH (HUN). He’ll wrestle Ukraine’s Vasyl SOVA (UKR) in the finals. The Ukrainian wrestler beat Shamil ZUBAIROV (AZE), 6-2 to reach the finals. 


Vitali PIASNIAK (BLR) will wrestle Yurii IDZINSKYI (UKR) for the 125kg U23 European title. (Photo Sachiko Hotaka)

In the only weight that didn’t feature a Russian wrestler, 125kg, Belarus’ Vitali PIASNIAK and Yurii IDZINSKYI (UKR) picked up semifinal wins and will compete on Sunday night for the 125kg U23 European title.

The Day 7 finals begin on Sunday at 18:00 (local time).

RESULTS 
61kg 
GOLD - Georgios PILIDIS (GRE) vs. Abasgadzhi MAGOMEDOV (RUS)
SEMIFINAL - Georgios PILIDIS (GRE) df. Valentyn BLIASETSKYI (UKR), 10-0 
SEMIFINAL - Abasgadzhi MAGOMEDOV (RUS) df. Asgar MAMMADALIYEV (AZE), 10-0 

74kg 
GOLD - Nikita SUCHKOV (RUS) vs. Akhsarbek GULAEV (SVK)
SEMIFINAL - Nikita SUCHKOV (RUS) df. Khachatur PAPIKYAN (ARM), 10-0 
SEMIFINAL - Akhsarbek GULAEV (SVK) df. Giorgi SULAVA (GEO), 9-7

86kg 
GOLD - Arsen-Ali MUSALALIEV (RUS) vs. Arif OZEN (TUR)
SEMIFINAL - Arsen-Ali MUSALALIEV (RUS) df. Johannes Martin DEML (GER), 8-0 
SEMIFINAL - Arif OZEN (TUR) df.  Zaur BERADZE (GEO), 8-1

92kg 
GOLD - Vasyl SOVA (UKR) vs. Batyrbek TCAKULOV (RUS)
SEMIFINAL - Vasyl SOVA (UKR) df.  Shamil ZUBAIROV (AZE), 6-0
SEMIFINAL - Batyrbek TCAKULOV (RUS) df. Bendeguz TOTH (HUN), 6-0 

125kg
GOLD - Vitali PIASNIAK (BLR) vs. Yurii IDZINSKYI (UKR) 
SEMIFINAL - Vitali PIASNIAK (BLR) df. Samhan JABRAILOV (MDA), 3-1 
SEMIFINAL - Yurii IDZINSKYI (UKR) df. Georgii NOGAEV (SVK), 11-0 

Esmaeili survives Jafarov shock to win ISG 2025 gold

Tuesday, November 18, 2025 - 18:51 By Vinay Siwach

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RIYADH, Saudi Arabia (November 18) -- He needed some strong defense to win the world title and on Tuesday, Saeid ESMAEILI (IRI) needed some clutch offense to beat Hasrat JAFAROV (AZE) for the second time in two one month.

Esmaeili and Jafarov clashed in the final of the 67kg weight class at the Islamic Solidarity Games 2025 in Riyad, Saudi Arabi and it seemed that the latter was on his way to upset the Olympic champion and avenge his loss from the World Championships final.

Down 3-3 on criteria, all seemed to be over for Esmaeili as the clock ticked down. In the last 10 seconds, Esmaeili worked on a double-arm lock and then managed to throw Jafarov in danger from standing for four points which changed the result and gave him the win.

Azerbaijan challenged the call but there was no change in the result and Esmaeili defeated Jafarov 8-3, to capture yet another gold medal this year after Asian and World Championships.

Saeid ESMAEILI (IRI)Saeid ESMAEILI (IRI) throws Aytjan KHALMAKHANOV (UZB) during their 67kg bout. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kadir Caliskan)

In Zagreb, Esmaeili was put in par terre for third passivity call. Jafarov, down 2-1, needed a point to turn the result but he failed to score any points as Esmaeili defended the par terre position and captured his first world title.

Jafarov blamed a lapse in concentration in the final seconds that costed him the gold medal in Riyadh.

Gholamreza FAROKHI (IRI)Gholamreza FAROKHI (IRI) won his fourth gold medal this year. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kadir Caliskan)

Iran's other world champion from Zagreb, Gholamreza FAROKHI (IRI) made it seem a little easier as he defeated former world U20 champion Islam YEVLOYEV (KAZ), 6-0, winning his third gold in one month.

Farokhi, who won gold at 82kg at the World Championships, moved to 87kg for U23 World Championships and won gold without giving up a point in Novi Sad. Just two weeks later, he now gold at 87kg on Tuesday.

Against Yevloyev in the final, Farokhi was awarded both par terre position which gave him a 2-0 lead. From the second par terre, he managed to score a point as he threw Yevloyev for a stepout. The Kazakhstan wrestler was docked two points for defensive foul making it 5-0.

Kazakhstan challenged the foul call but Yevloyev had clearly blocked Farokhi using his elbow on the Iranian's face. The lost challenged made it 6-0 for Farokhi, giving him the win.

Farokhi had a tough match in semifinals against world bronze medalist Asan ZHANYSHOV (KGZ) and needed a takedown in the final minute to win 7-6, first time he has shown some difficulty winning bouts.

Akzhol MAKHMUDOV (KGZ)Akzhol MAKHMUDOV (KGZ) won the 77kg gold medal at the Islamic Solidarity Games. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kadir Caliskan)

Two other gold medals were awarded on Tuesday with former U23 world champion Alisher GANIEV (UZB) winning the 60kg one and two-time Olympic medalist Akzhol MAKHMUDOV (KGZ) marking his comeback with gold medal at 77kg.

Makhmudov, who has not wrestled in a full tournament since winning bronze in Paris, was in some form as he made no mistake in his run to the gold medal. In the final, he wrestled Amir ABDI (IRI) and performed a reverse lift throw for five points before securing the fall in the second period.

Abdi got the par terre position in the first period but Makhmudov defended the position, giving only a 1-0 lead to the Iranian. When he got the par terre position, he jumped to the front before performing the lift and holding Abdi on the mat for fall.

Ganiev, who defeated European champion Nihad MAMMADLI (AZE) in the quarterfinal, defeated Ali AHMADI VAFA (IRI) in the semifinal and humbled Ekrem OZTURK (TUR), 8-0, in the final.

RESULTS

60kg
GOLD: Alisher GANIEV (UZB) df. Ekrem OZTURK (TUR), 8-0

BRONZE: Ali AHMADI VAFA (IRI) df. Nihat MAMMADLI (AZE), 3-2
BRONZE: Sajjad ALBIDHAN (IRQ) df. Fergat ABDELKRIM (ALG), 5-1

67kg
GOLD: Saeid ESMAEILI LEIVESI (IRI) df. Hasrat JAFAROV (AZE), 8-3

BRONZE: Aytjan KHALMAKHANOV (UZB) df. Aref MOHAMMADI (QAT), 5-2
BRONZE: Razzak BEISHEKEEV (KGZ) df. Hassan ABDELREHIM (EGY), via fall (9-0)

77kg
GOLD: Akzhol MAKHMUDOV (KGZ) df. Amir ABDI (IRI), via fall (6-1)

BRONZE: Abdullo ALIEV (UZB) df. Ulvu GANIZADE (AZE), 2-2
BRONZE: Shahin BADAGHIMOFRAD (QAT) df. Sami SLAMA (TUN), via fall (8-1)

87kg
GOLD: Gholamreza FAROKHI (IRI) df. Islam YEVLOYEV (KAZ), 6-0

BRONZE: Sid BACHIR (ALG) df. Sukhrob ABDULKHAEV (TJK), 9-0
BRONZE: Asan ZHANYSHOV (KGZ) df. Islam ABBASOV (AZE), 5-1