#BudaWrestle2018

Sadulaev Exacts Revenge on Snyder; Russia, Japan Sweep Gold Medals

By Andrew Hipps

BUDAPEST, Hungary (October 23) -- The Russian Tank is back on top.

Olympic champion Abdulrashid SADULAEV (RUS) earned a first-period fall over returning world and Olympic champion Kyle SNYDER (USA) in the 97kg gold-medal match at the World Championships on Tuesday, exacting revenge from last year's gold-medal match in Paris. 

The highly-anticipated showdown, which was billed as Snyderlaev II, lasted just over a minute. Sadulaev fired off a single leg thirty-five seconds into the match. Snyder fought the position and quickly found himself in danger. Sadulaev kept Snyder on his back and secured the fall. 

"Everybody knows Sadulaev is a very talented wrestler," Snyder said after the match. "He hit me in a good move and it worked out well for him tonight."

Sadulaev has now won three senior world titles to go along with an Olympic gold medal in Rio. He has suffered just one international loss since 2013. That loss came against Snyder at last year's World Championships.

Russia won the freestyle team title and crowned both freestyle gold medalists on Tuesday. The United States finished second in the team standings, while Georgia finished third.

Magomedrasul GAZIMAGOMEDOV (RUS) claimed Russia's other freestyle gold medal on Tuesday with a 7-6 come-from-behind victory over Adam BATIROV (BRN) in the gold-medal match 70kg. It is Gazimagomedov's second world title and first since 2015.  

The 33-year-old Batirov, formerly of Russia, controlled the early part of the match, jumping out to a 6-0 lead at the break after scoring a takedown and turning Gazimagomedov twice with a leg lace. 

Gazimagomedov came out strong in the final period. First, he scored a takedown to cut the deficit to four, then two step outs in a span of 10 seconds made the score 6-4 in favor of Batirov with just over a minute remaining. Gazimagomedov continued to force the action against a tired Batirov, and with three seconds left scored a takedown on the edge of the mat to take the victory.

While Russia swept the freestyle gold medals on Tuesday, Japan won both gold medals in women's wrestling. 

At 55kg, Mayu MUKAIDA (JPN) cruised to a 12-2 technical fall over Zalina SIDAKOVA (BLR) to win her second world title. After surrendering the first two points of the match off a crotch lift, Mukaida dominated. A couple takedowns and a gut wrench turn made the score 6-2 at the break. Twenty seconds into the second period Mukaida picked up another takedown before locking up a gut wrench and turning Sidakova twice for the technical fall. 

Risako KAWAI (JPN) captured her third world-level title in three years with an 8-0 victory over Elif YESILIRMAK (TUR) in the gold-medal match at 59kg. Kawaii led 2-0 at the break before breaking the match wide open in the second period. Five seconds into the period she scored a takedown to go up 4-0. Then with just over a minute remaining she took a shot and dumped Yesilirmak to her back for four points to extend her lead to 8-0, which is how the match would end. 

In the bronze-medal bouts at 70kg, 2017 world champion Zurabi IAKOBISHVILI (GEO) picked up a 10-0 technical fall victory over Byambadorj BAT ERDENE (MGL). The other bronze medal at 70kg was won by Franklin MAREN CASTILLO (CUB), who defeated Andriy KVYATKOVSKYY (UKR) 11-1. 

Elizbar ODIKADZE (GEO) won his first world medal after placing fifth at the World Championships three times and fifth at the Olympic Games in 2016. He won by fall in his bronze-medal match over Magomed IBRAGIMOV (UZB). 

In women's wrestling, Myong Suk JONG (PRK) won her third world bronze medal, beating Qi ZHANG (CHN) 2-1 at 55kg. Lianna MONTERO HERRERA (CUB) won the other bronze medal at 55kg, beating Jacarra WINCHESTER (USA) 5-4. 

2016 world champion Xingru PEI (CHN) earned a bronze medal at 59kg with a 7-1 win over Svetlana LIPATOVA (RUS). Mongolia picked up a bronze in women's wrestling as Shoovdor BAATARJAV topped Alejandra ROMERO BONILLA (MEX) at 59kg. 

Freestyle

70kg
GOLD: Magomedrasul GAZIMAGOMEDOV (RUS) df. Adam BATIROV (BRN) by VPO1, 7-6
BRONZE: Zurabi IAKOBISHVILI (GEO) df. Byambadorj BAT ERDENE (MGL) by VSU, 10-0
BRONZE: Franklin MAREN CASTILLO (CUB) df. Andriy KVYATKOVSKYY (UKR) by VSU1, 11-1

97kg
GOLD: Abdulrashid SADULAEV (RUS) df. Kyle SNYDER (USA) by VFA, 2-0
BRONZE: Elizbar ODIKADZE (GEO) df. Magomed IBRAGIMOV (UZB) by VFA, 5-2
BRONZE: Abraham CONYEDO RUANO (ITA) df. Pavlo OLIINYK (HUN) by VPO1, 2-2

Women's Wrestling

55kg
GOLD: Mayu MUKAIDA (JPN) df. Zalina SIDAKOVA (BLR) by VSU1, 12-2
BRONZE: Myong Suk JONG (PRK) df. Qi ZHANG (CHN) by VPO1, 2-1
BRONZE: Lianna MONTERO HERRERA (CUB) df. Jacarra WINCHESTER (USA) by VPO1, 5-4 

59kg
GOLD: Risako KAWAI (JPN) df. Elif YESILIRMAK (TUR) by VPO, 8-0
BRONZE: Shoovdor BAATARJAV (MGL) df. Alejandra ROMERO BONILLA (MEX) by VPO1, 4-2
BRONZE: Xingru PEI (CHN) df. Svetlana LIPATOVA (RUS) by VPO1, 7-1
 

#WrestleAthens

U17 World Wrestling Championships: Day 2 Highlights

By Vinay Siwach

ATHENS, Greece (July 29) -- The second day of the World U17 Championships in Athens will see five more Greco-Roman weight classes -- 45kg, 51kg, 60kg, 71kg and 92kg.

WATCH LIVE | LIVE MATCH ORDER | DAY 1 RESULTS

READ THE SEMIFINALS REPORT HERE

The semifinals will begin at 17:00 hours local time and the medal bouts from Monday's weight classes will start at 18:00 hours.

15:50: Asian bronze medalist Otabek TURSUNOV (UZB) takes out European champion Marat ATSHEMYAN (ARM) 5-2 in the 51kg quarterfinal.

15:45: Ionut PATRU (ROU) stuns Mamuka BIDZINASHVILI (GEO) in the 92kg quarterfinals and reaches the semifinal. Earlier in the day, he had said that he will become the world champion tomorrow.

15:30: In a match that took forever, Asian U17 champion Damir AKAN (KAZ) has been cautioned out after his second defensive four against Abolfazl ZARE (IRI) at 60kg. Akan led 7-0 as he scored from par terre and Zare fouled. But in the second period, Zare scored a turn and one foul from Akan made it 7-5. As the bout resumed in par terre, Akan made a second defensive leg foul which handed Zare the win.

15:15: Asian U17 champion Behruzbek VALIEV (UZB) defends from par terre and holds on to his 1-1 criteria lead against Hossein KAZEMI (IRI) to enter the semifinal at 71kg. Kazemi challenged for a stepout from par terre but lost it and Valiev won 2-1.

15:05: Benyamin KHEZLI (IRI) with gut-wrench from par terre and he beats Juntao LUO (CHN) 9-0 at 45kg to enter the semifinals at 45kg.

15:00: In a rematch of the European final, Abdurrahman HUSEYNLI (AZE) comes back from 6-0 deficit and beats Saba ABASHIDZE (GEO) 9-6. Abashidze hit a big four and then a turn to lead 6-0. But Huseynli scored a takedown and two arm-trap guts to make it 6-6. Another gut-wrench made it 8-6. Huseynli got par terre in second period but did score. Abashidze could not turn around the 9-6 score and lost the quarterfinal.  

14:42: Down goes European U17 champion Giorgi GOGELASHVILI (GEO) at 71kg. Yusif AHMADLI (AZE) beats the Georgian 7-2. He got going in the second period with a takedown and four-pointer.

14:35: Pavlos TSENTIDIS (GRE) with a banger of a throw to finish all hopes of Daniyar BAZARBEK (KAZ) in their 51kg match. Tsentidis was leading 5-0 when Bazarbek jumped for a big move. Tsentidis grabbed and locked him and slammed him on the mat for four! Great throw

14:25: Asian champion and returning bronze medalist Behruzbek VALIEV (UZB) with a beautiful suplex for five and then pins Radoslav PERYANSKI (BUL) at 71kg. He looks good to upgrade his bronze to gold this year.

14:15: Marat ATSHEMYAN (ARM), European champ at 51kg, reaches the quarterfinals with a 8-0 quick win over Yuvraj KAMANNA (IND).

European bronze medalist Abu Bakar SAGA (NOR) takes a minute and 26 seconds to win 10-2 over Kaloyan BORISOV (BUL)

13:45: Amirsam MOHAMMADI (IRI) wins a tough battle against Said PASHAYEV (AZE) at 92kg, 6-1. Just better defense from Mohammadi as he beats Pashayev, who is actually a European champion in Freestyle.

13:30: Asian champion Damir AKAN (KAZ) rolls to a 10-0 win over RITESH (IND) at 60kg and Mika LABES (GER) blanks Imre JUHASZ (HUN) 6-0 in the next bout.

13:15: Benyamin KHEZLI (IRI) pulls off a great win over European bronze medalist Ararat AVETISYAN (ARM) 8-1 at 45kg. Another big win for Iran.

13:00: Asian champion Behruzbek VALIEV (UZB) takes 2 minutes and 48 seconds to win his 71kg bout against Matias ONNENLEHTO (FIN)

12:45: Giorgi GOGELASHVILI (GEO), European champion at 71kg, just keeps his calm and despite losing a challenge in the bout, he roars in the second period to beat Balaz UJHELJI (SRB) 7-1 

12:15: Abu Bakar SAGA (NOR) hangs on for a 6-3 win over Herman BASARAB (UKR) at 51kg. Saga won bronze medal at the European Championships in Skopje

12:00: Pavlos TSENTIDIS (GRE) sends the local crowd in a frenzy with a final-second throw against Carter SHIN (USA) and wins hi 51kg bout 3-2. USA challenge but lose it on review.

11:45: Amirsam MOHAMMADI (IRI) looks so good at 92kg! He rolls Vladislav VASYLEVSKYI (MDA) and wins his bout 8-0.

11:35: Denys SEREDIN (UKR) with a massive throw on the edge to get five points and Vasileios TSAROUCHAS (GRE) is called for leg foul as well which give two more points to Seredin. The Ukraine finishes the 60kg bout 10-3

11:25: Amangeldi YSAKBAEV (KGZ) rallies to win 11-7 against Zaven MEZHLUMYAN (ARM) after being down 7-1 at 60kg. Ysakbaev throws Mezhlumyan for a four and adds a two to lead 7-7 on criteria and when the Armenian tries a flying squirrel, Ysakbaev throws him down for four more

11:15: Asian U17 champion Damir AKAN (KAZ) was never in danger against Kodai HIHARA (JPN). Akan manages an 8-1 lead before winning his 60kg bout 8-2

11:00: Abolfazl ZARE (IRI) begins day two for Iran with a big 9-0 win over Wail BEN AISSA (ALG) at 60kg. Zare got the par terre and two exposure for the lead. He then gets the par terre in the second period as well and wins with another turn.

10:30: The repechage matches will kick off day two in Athens before we move into the qualification rounds of 45kg, 51kg, 60kg, 71kg and 92kg.