#WrestleBelgrade

Sadulaev Helps Russia Go 4-for-4 in FS Semifinals

By Andrew Hipps

Link:
Semifinal Highlights

BELGRADE, Serbia (December 17) -- Olympic champion Abdulrashid SADULAEV (RUS) helped Russia go 4-for-4 in Thursday's freestyle semifinal round at the Individual World Cup in Belgrade, Serbia.

Sadualev, a four-time world champion, outscored his three opponents 32-3 on Thursday, finishing his day with a 12-1 semifinal victory over Valerii ANDRIITSEV (UKR). Sadulaev gave up the first point of the match to go down 1-0, but dominated the rest of the way, getting a takedown off a single leg before locking up a gut wrench and turning Andriitsev five times to earn the technical superiority.

The Russian Tank will face Aliaksandr HUSHTYN (BLR) in the 97kg final. The two have met multiple times, including in the 2019 European Championships final. Hushtyn was impressive in his semifinal match, earning a shutout (8-0) over Shamil ZUBAIROV (AZE).

Russia's other semifinal winners on Thursday were Abasgadzhi MAGOMEDOV (61kg), Akhmed USMANOV (79kg) and Dauren KURUGLIEV (86kg).

Abasgadzhi MAGOMEDOV (RUS) advanced to the finals at 61kg (Photo: Gabor MARTIN, UWW)

Magomedov blanked Agustin DESTRIBATS (ARG) 7-0 in his 61kg semifinal match. He led 5-0 at the break and added a takedown in the final period. The other semifinal winner was Akhmednabi GVARZATILOV (AZE), who topped Muhamad IKROMOV (TJK), 8-1. Gvarzatilov scored with a four-point move in the opening period, which helped him earn the victory. 

Usmanov rolled to a technical superiority (10-0) over Baliyan GOURAV (IND) to reach the 79kg final. After going up 7-0 in the first period, Usmanov scored with a step out and takedown to close out the match. 

Muhammet KOTANOGLU (TUR) celebrates after reaching the 79kg final (Photo: Gabor MARTIN, UWW)

The other semifinal match at 79kg was much more competitive, with Muhammet KOTANOGLU (TUR) edging Vasyl MYKHAILOV (UKR) 4-4 on criteria. The Turkish wrestler scored with a four-point move in the opening period and led 4-2 at the break. Mykhailov picked up a takedown with just under 20 seconds remaining, but Kotanoglu held on to win by criteria on the strength of his four-point move in the opening period. 

Kurugliev shut out world No.2 Deepak PUNIA (IND) to advance to the 86kg final. All the scoring came in the first period, with Kurugliev getting a takedown and gut wrench. Winning the other 86kg semifinal was Zbigniew BARANOWSKI (POL), who edged Taimuraz FRIEV NASKIDAEVA (ESP) 3-2. Baranowski scored his first two points off the activity clock and led most of the match. With 35 seconds remaining, Friev Naskidaeva scored with a two-point exposure to take a very brief criteria lead before Baranowski earned the reversal, which turned out to be to be the difference in the match. 

Iszmail MUSZUKAJEV (HUN) edged three-time world champ Haji ALIYEV (AZE) to reach the 65kg final (Photo: Gabor MARTIN, UWW)

One of the most anticipated semifinal matches took place at 65kg, with world bronze medalist Iszmail MUSZUKAJEV (HUN) facing three-time world champion Haji ALIYEV (AZE). Earlier in the day, Aliyev won by injury default over 2019 world champion Gadzhimurad RASHIDOV (RUS). Muszukajev edged Aliyev 7-6, scoring six quick points early in the second period, which included a four-pointer. Aliyev rallied, picking up two takedowns and a late step out but could not complete the comeback. Vazgen TEVANYAN (ARM) earned a 7-2 victory over Hor OHANNESIAN (UKR) in the other 65kg semifinal.

Freestyle Semifinal Results

61kg
Akhmednabi GVARZATILOV (AZE) df. Muhamad IKROMOV (TJK) by VPO1, 8-1
Abasgadzhi MAGOMEDOV (RUS) df. Agustin Alejandro DESTRIBATS (ARG) by VPO, 7-0

65kg
Vazgen TEVANYAN (ARM) df. Hor OHANNESIAN (UKR) by VPO1, 7-2
Iszmail MUSZUKAJEV (HUN) df. Haji ALIYEV (AZE) by VPO1, 7-6

79kg
Akhmed USMANOV (RUS) df. Baliyan GOURAV (IND) by VSU, 10-0
Muhammet KOTANOGLU (TUR) df. Vasyl MYKHAILOV (UKR) by VPO1, 4-4

86kg
Zbigniew BARANOWSKI (POL) df. Taimuraz FRIEV NASKIDAEVA (ESP) by VPO1, 3-2
Dauren KURUGLIEV (RUS) df. Deepak PUNIA (IND) by VPO, 4-0

97kg
Abdulrashid SADULAEV (RUS) df. Valerii ANDRIITSEV (UKR) by VSU1, 12-1
Aliaksandr HUSHTYN (BLR) df. Shamil ZUBAIROV (AZE) by VPO, 8-0
 

#WrestleBelgrade

2023 World Championships FS 65kg, 97kg; WW 55kg, 59kg semis set

By Ken Marantz & Vinay Siwach

BELGRADE, Serbia (September 18) -- The third day of the World Championships and women's wrestling is being introduced. The final two Freestyle weights, 65kg and 97kg, will be in action along with WW 55kg and 59kg in action. Remember that Olympic weight classes offer 5 Paris Olympic quotas, four to the medal winners and one to the winner of the playoff which has the bronze-losing wrestlers.

WATCH LIVE | MATCH ORDER

15:24: What a finish to the morning session! After Kyle SNYDER (USA) was unceremoniously ousted by Akhmed TAZHUDINOV (BRN) in the 97kg quarterfinals, Mojtaba GOLEIJ (IRI) was on the verge of slaying the other half of the Snyderlaev beast when Abdulrashid SADULAEV (AIN) pulled off a miracle victory in the final seconds. Asian champion Tazhudinov scored two 4-point moves off counter lifts, the second giving him an 11-0 victory over Snyder at 2:52. Meanwhile, Goleij had gone ahead of Sadulaev 4-2 with a lift-and-dump takedown, only for the five-time world champion to gain a reverse headlock and put Goleij onto his back for a fall with just seconds remaining.

15:10: Rahman AMOUZAD (IRI) appears to be cruising into the 65kg semifinals with a seven-point lead in the second period when Nicholas LEE (USA) comes to life and pancakes him to his back. But it is too little, too late as the Iranian fights out of it and holds on for a 7-4 victory.

15:00: Iszmail MUSZUKAJEV (HUN) has taken out another hammer. He scored two takedowns in his 5-4 win over Shamil MAMMEDOV (AIN). On Mat D, Sebastian RIVERIA (PUR) rolls to a 15-4 win over Maxim SACULTAN (MDA) to reach the semifinals against Vagzen TEVANYAN (ARM)

14:43: A takedown in each period and veteran Yullia TKACH (UKR) is into the 59kg semifinals with a 5-0 victory over Othelie HOEIE. Tkach is pursuing her fifth world medal and first since 2018. She's nine years removed from her lone title won in 2014.

14:18: Mojtaba GOLEIJ (IRI) earns a shot at Sadulaev in the quarterfinals, overwhelming Takashi ISHIGURO (JPN) 11-1.

14:15: Abdulrashid SADULAEV (AIN) gives up a late takedown to Vladislav BAITCAEV (HUN) but the Olympic champ wins 4-2 at 97kg and sets up a bout with Mojtaba GOLEIJ (IRI)

14:12: One thing is for sure, Kyle SNYDER (USA) doesn't like to waste time. He scores a stepout four seconds into his match against Radu LEFTER (MDA) and then it's off to the races. A run of takedowns and he's a 12-1 winner with 30 seconds to spare in the first period. Lefter got his point with a stepout, but the fact that he got Snyder's leg in the air and only came out with 1 point shows the tenacity of the American.

14:00: Iszmail MUSZUKAJAEV (HUN) pins Olympic champion Takuto OTOGURO (JPN)! A bodylock controlled by Muszukajaev and Otoguro, who isn't aware of the fall, is in disbelief.

13:54: Rahman AMOUZAD (IRI) remains on track to defend his 65kg title with a silky smooth 12-0 rout of Stefan COMAN (ROU) to advance to the quarterfinals. He starts with three stepouts, then gets a takedown with a barrel roll. Another stepout, another takedown, then he stops a counter lift for 4 and the bout is over with seven seconds to go in the first period.

13:39: Haruna OKUNO (JPN) takes the mat at 55kg with tape wrapped around her face after suffering a gash on her nose in her previous match. She shows obvious discomfort, especially when Otgontuya CHINBOLD delivers a forearm to the face. Okuno gets only an activity point in the first period, but turns it on in the second, scoring a takedown-gut wrench combination and two more takedowns for a 9-2 win and a place in the quarterfinals. 

13:23: 2014 world champion Yuliia TKACH (UKR) comes back from 4-0 down to pin Anastasiia SIDELNIKOVA (AIN) at 59kg. The arm bar to use. In the same weight class, Qi ZHANG (CHN) 12-0 over Tamara DOLLAK (HUN)

13:19: Iran is dealt a setback in the freestyle team race as Yones EMAMI (IRI), a bronze medalist a year ago, falls to former world champion Hetik CABOLOV (SRB) in the repechage at 74kg. That not only means one less medal for Iran, but it will also miss out on the Paris Olympic berth in the weight class -- although that will likely be acquired at the Asian qualifying tournament.

13:10: Sae NANJO (JPN), chasing her first senior world title, gets her first bout against Jowita WRZESIEN (POL) underway with a takedown to lead 2-0 at the break. He adds another takedown in the second period to win 4-0

12:26: Haji ALIYEV (AZE), back on the mat with little turnaround time after a tough win over Shaohua YUAN (CHN), breaks open a close match with Georgii OKOROKOVV (AUS) to stay alive at 65kg. Aliyez leads 2-2 by criteria, but scores a takedown and gut wrench, then another takedown in the final two minutes for an 8-2 win. 

12:10: Defending champion Rahman AMOUZAD (IRI) warms up for the journey ahead at 65kg with a carefree 10-0 win over Yanisse MADI (COM). Amouzad expends little effort in scoring a takedown and lace lock, then reeling off three takedowns to end it at 2:46.

11:57: Otoguro has no problem putting away Erik ARUSHANIAN (UKR). He scores a takedown and a pair of gut wrenches to go up 6-0. Another takedown, another gut wrench, and it's all over at 10-0 with 12 seconds left in the first period. Next up for Otoguro could be Iszmail MUSZUKAJEV (HUN), who he beat in the quarterfinals at the Tokyo Olympics to avenge a loss in the bronze-medal match at the 2019 worlds.

11:45: Three-time world champion and Tokyo Olympic silver medalist Haji ALIYEV (AZE) had to take an extended medical break as he wrestles Shaohua YUAN (CHN). Aliyev leads 3-2 at the break as he answered Yuan's takedown with an underhook throw of his own. Another takedown for Aliyev to start the second period and he calls bleeding time instantly. Yuan tried challenging but Aliyev with a 10-4 win

11:32: Olympic champion Takuto OTOGURO (JPN), wrestling in his first international match since his triumph in Tokyo, meets some resistance from Islam DUDAEV (ALB) in his opener at 65kg, but scores three takedowns in the second period to secure a 9-2 win.

11:12: Two-time former world champion Haruna OKUNO (JPN), back at women's 55kg because of Japan's depth at 53kg, gets a 4-pointer off a late scramble to clinch an 8-2 victory over world U20 champion Aryna MARTYNAVA (AIN). Okuno, who won her third world U23 gold last year, is making her first senior world appearance since 2018.

11:00: Bolortuya KHURELKHUU (MGL) hit a monster five-pointer on Krystsina SAZYKINA (POL) and secured the fall to start the day at 59kg.

10:30: Another day and we got two more Olympic weight classes going on the mat. Perhaps the deepest weight class in wrestling, 65kg, and 97kg will be on today in Freestyle. Women's Wrestling will see non-Olympic weight classes 55kg and 59kg