#WrestleBelgrade

Sakurai stuns Maroulis for 57kg title; U.S. wins 2 golds

By Ken Marantz

BELGRADE, Serbia (September 15) -- After winning a world title last year at 55kg, Tsugumi SAKURAI (JPN) moved up this year to 57kg to get an early start in her bid to achieve the difficult task of making Japan's team to the Paris Olympics.

Beating the reigning champion can certainly provide a welcome boost of confidence.

Sakurai scored a second-period takedown to win an intense struggle with former Olympic champion Helen MAROULIS (USA) 3-0 in the 57kg final as women's wrestling finished up on Thursday night with the last four weight classes at the World Championships in Belgrade.

"My opponent was an Olympic champion and is an athlete who always competes on the top level," Sakurai said. "I knew she was a strong wrestler. But I'm young, and I thought that I have to win. I had a strong desire to win, and I'm really happy to come out with the victory."

It was otherwise a good night for the U.S., as Olympic champion Tamyra MENSAH STOCK (USA) regained the 68kg world title with a victory by fall in another U.S.-Japan match-up, and teenager Amit ELOR (USA) belied her years with a dominant run to the 72kg gold.

The other gold up for grabs went to Anastasia NICHITA (MDA), who won the 59kg title to become Moldova's second female world champion in history, just one year after Irina RINGACI (MDA) became the first.

Tsugumi SAKURAI (JPN)Tsugumi SAKURAI (JPN) scored the all-important takedown over Helen MAROULIS (USA) during this sequence. (Photo: UWW / Kadir Caliskan)

In the 57kg final, Sakurai received an activity point in the first period, then scored the lone technical points of the match with a go-behind takedown off a 2-on-1 arm hold.

From there, she remained the aggressor, getting in several times on a single, and while those forays did not produce points, it kept her off the activity clock and burned precious time.

"Scoring points would not be easy, so when I got in on a tackle, I didn't panic, even though there were times I was stopped," the 21-year-old Sakurai said. "In the second period, I didn't hold back. I thought the opponent would come forward and I launched my moves."

Sakurai's gold was the fifth won by Japan, which easily won the team title with 190 points as all nine of its wrestlers who made the trip to Belgrade will return with a medal (Japan had no entry at 53kg after a late injury withdrawal). The United States, with three titles, was second with 157, followed by China with 84.

The match with Sakurai represented the latest chapter in the fierce rivalry that Maroulis, who also won world titles in 2015 and 2017, has developed with Japanese wrestlers that hit a pinnacle when she stunned the legendary Saori YOSHIDA (JPN) in the final at the 2016 Rio Olympics. That prevented Yoshida from becoming a four-time Olympic champion and made Maroulis a household name in Japan.

Fast forward five years to the Tokyo Olympics, and Risako KAWAI (JPN), also a gold medalist in Rio, moved down to 57kg and clashed with Maroulis in the semifinals. Kawai won that battle 2-1 and went on to win the gold, while Maroulis ended up with a bronze.

Sakurai, who won her first Asian senior title in April, currently holds the national team spot at 57kg in the absence of Kawai, who got married after her triumph at the Tokyo Games and recently gave birth to her first child. Kawai will be returning to the mat when the qualifying process for the 2024 Paris Olympics gets started in December, and the victory in Belgrade gives Sakurai a mental boost.

"To be able to beat the world to me is a link to going to the Paris Olympics," Sakurai said. "There are many strong wrestlers in our country. First, if I don't win at home, I can't be at [next year's] World Championships, the [Olympic] qualifier."

While Sakurai was relatively unknown when she triumphed at the World Championships a year ago in Oslo, she said that it became apparent in Belgrade that she had been scouted.

"I was a champion last year, and from the first match I felt like others had done their homework on me," Sakurai said. "But to be able to still win makes you a champion."

But scouting is a two-way street, and Sakurai said she had an idea of what Maroulis would throw at her.

"Basically, I stuck fully with my wrestling," Sakurai said. "But the opponent is one who constantly wins and has many techniques. I watched a number of matches and I took measures so she couldn't use the moves on me."

Sakurai said she had confidence that her training prepared her to go all out for the full six minutes.

"I put in a lot of time in practice," she said. "Compared with other countries, our wrestlers are not inferior in terms of stamina. So I thought I was better in that regard."

Taymra MENSAH STOCK (USA)Taymra MENSAH STOCK (USA) pinned U20 world champion Ami ISHII (JPN) for the 68kg gold medal. (Photo: UWW / Kostadin Andonov)

For Mensah Stock, her victory by fall over Ami ISHII (JPN) in the 68kg final provided some redemption for a stunning loss to another Japanese wrestler in Oslo, which came on the heels of a gratifying triumph at the Tokyo Olympics.

Asked if it was poetic justice, the spirited Mensah Stock replied, "Whether it is poetic or not, the fact is that I did it, I took an opportunity and I was not letting go of it and these are the fruits of what happened. I love it!"

Mensah Stock showed she was ready for business by opening the match with a driving tackle for 2. After the American got a second takedown, Ishii tried to stand up with her back to the American's chest. Mensah Stock alertly shifted back and pulled down on the chin, dropping the Japanese onto her back.

It took just moments to secure the fall in 2:11. She won all of her matches by fall or technical fall, outscoring her opponents 36-0.

It was far different from what occurred in Oslo, when in the semifinal, she was caught off guard and pinned by Rin MIYAJI (JPN). Mensah Stock came back to take the bronze and, after some months of soul-searching to decide if she wanted to continue in the sport, she resolved never to make the same mistake.

"I had a lot of anxiety, I was just kind of frightened if I did one slip-up like I did last year, that could be the end of a world title," she said. "But I had way more training this year than I did last year and I just had to trust the process."

For Mensah Stock, it is a vast support system that provides the motivation for her to continue putting in the time and effort.

"I have so many people in my corner believing in me, even when I don't believe in myself," she said. "I kid you not, I wanted to quit. This sport is hurting me. I'm going to be 30 in October. And these kids are getting younger and younger, and faster and faster. But I can hang with them.

"My coaches...just kept telling me, 'You got this. You got this.' And when I was done, they were like, 'Welcome back.' I'm back. It's great."

The 19-year-old Ishii, a teammate of Sakurai's at Ikuei University who won the world U20 title a month ago, had to defeat Miyaji along the way in making Japan's team to Belgrade. Mensah Stock said she expects to see more of her.

"Japan has so many opportunities for their young girls to just wrestle, and to just be in the room with so many incredible wrestlers," she said. "So without a doubt, she is going to learn from this, and she's going to get better, and I'm going to have to be looking back because I know I'm a target. But I'm a moving target."

Amit ELOR (USA)Amit ELOR (USA) became the youngest U.S. world champion. (Photo: UWW / Kostadin Andonov)

While Mensah Stock and Maroulis are established stars, few could have expected the sheer dominance with which Elor stormed to the gold in her senior world debut to relegate Zhamila BAKBERGENOVA (KAZ) to a second straight silver medal.

In the 72kg final, Elor scored a go-behind takedown, then, emulating a move the Japanese use so effectively, secured a lace lock and ripped off four straight rolls to end the proceedings at 1:13 and become the youngest world champion in U.S. history.

"I am in shock," Elor said. "I kept wrestling and this is where I am. This is unbelievable. This is unreal."

Elor showed she had the potential when she won both the world U17 and U20 titles in 2021, then repeated as champion of the latter last month in Sofia, Bulgaria.

On the biggest stage of all, she managed to keep her composure. She won her opening match by fall, then advanced to the final with a 3-2 win over defending champion Masako FURUICHI (JPN).

"There were a lot of nerves and every time I feel nervous, I reminded myself why I am wrestling and I love the sport so much," Elor said. "So go out there and enjoy it and if you don't enjoy it, it's not worth it."

For now, the sky seems to be the limit. "There is so much more [to challenge myself]. My number one dream is to be an Olympic champion. Each year is a new year and a chance to prove that you are number one."

Anastasia NICHITA (MDA)Anastasia NICHITA (MDA) held off a Grace BULLEN (NOR) attack in the final seconds to win the 59kg gold. (Photo: UWW / Martin Gabor)

At 59kg, Nichita survived a late scramble with the ever-dangerous Grace BULLEN (NOR) to preserve a 4-1 win and deny her opponent from becoming Norway's first female world champion since 1998.

"I was worrying a lot because during yesterday’s match I injured my knee and I had pain in my rib," Nichita said. "That’s why I didn’t want to attack a lot, I tried to defend more."

In the first period, Bullen received an activity point, after which Nichita countered a tackle attempt and spun behind for a takedown and a 2-1 lead. Nichita then added a stepout in the second period.

In the waning seconds of the match, Bullen appeared bound for a winning takedown when she got on top and stuck in her legs, but Nichita managed to grab one and hang on to keep Bullen from completing the move. An unsuccessful challenge added the final point.

"Honestly, I hoped that there were no points in the final challenge, but anything could have happened," Nichita said. "Our country is very small, they could have given the points to her. I am glad it went eventually like that."

Nichita said having another top-class wrestler in the country in Ringaci makes both of them better. "I think we motivate each other," she said. "I hope the next generation will take us as an example."

From now, Nichita said she will drop to the Olympic weight of 57kg, knowing it presents a stiff challenge.

"Of course, I am already getting ready for the 57kg weight class," she said. "There are different opponents. Some of them I’ve wrestled before, so I know what to do, but there are some American and Japanese wrestlers who are really good. I will work even harder to beat them."

Sakura MOTOKI (JPN)U20 world champion Sakura MOTOKI (JPN) won a bronze medal at the 59kg. (Photo: UWW / Martin Gabor)

Motoki, Furuichi add bronzes to Japanese till

In the bronze-medal matches, Sakura MOTOKI (JPN) and Furuichi came through with victories to ensure every Japanese team member will be returning with a medal.

Motoki, a month after winning the world U20 gold, picked up the senior bronze with a victory by fall over Qi ZHANG (CHN) at 59kg. Leading 3-1, Motoki secured a takedown and immediately applied a chicken wing, then levered the Chinese onto her back for the fall in 3:46.

The other 59kg bronze went to Jowita WRZESIEN (POL), who won one of two bronzes for Poland on the night with a dramatic last-second 4-2 victory over Erdenesuvd BAT ERDENE (MGL).

Seemingly out of luck when she was denied after getting in deep on a takedown, Wrzesien gave it another desperate shot and managed to spin behind with :01 on the clock.

Furuichi, the defending champion at 72kg dethroned in the semifinals by Elor, needed a little luck and a late penalty point to defeat Buse TOSUN (TUR) 3-2 for her third career senior world medal.

Tosun's second-period takedown put her ahead on criteria, but the Turk was flagged for grabbing the singlet with :20 to go to give Furuichi the win and deny Tosun a second consecutive world bronze.

Alexandra ANGHEL (ROU) won the other 72kg bronze by routing Svetlana OKNAZAROVA (UZB) by a 10-0 technical fall in 4:54.

Anhelina LYSAK (POL)Anhelina LYSAK (POL) won Poland's third medal at the World Championships. (Photo: UWW / Martin Gabor)

Poland's other winner was Ukrainian-born Anhelina LYSAK (POL), who used a double arm lock to gain a 4-point throw and a takedown in a 10-6 victory over Davaachimeg ERKHEMBAYAR (MGL) at 57kg.

Ironically perhaps, a Ukrainian took the other 57kg bronze, when Alina HRUSHYNA (UKR) scored five takedowns in defeating Zhala ALIYEVA (AZE) by a 10-0 technical fall in 3:45.

The two 68kg bronzes were decided by falls. Defending champion Ringaci came out on the top from one of those situations which can go either way as she back-dropped Feng ZHOU (CHN) to her back and secured a fall in :51.

In the second match, 2019 world champion Linda MORAIS (CAN) gave up a 4-point tackle to Nisha DAHIYA (IND) but came back with an arm throw to a lace lock. Dahiya appeared to injure her knee and that allowed Morais to record the fall at 2:45.

Jordan BURROUGHS (USA)Jordan BURROUGHS (USA) used his double-leg attacks to great effect to reach another Worlds final. (Photo: UWW / Kostandin Andonov)

Burroughs makes final; Yazdani, Taylor set up another golden clash

In the freestyle semifinals earlier in the night session, Jordan BURROUGHS (USA) earned a shot at an American record world or Olympic gold by making the final at 79kg, while superstars Hassan YAZDANI (IRI) and David TAYLOR (USA) set up yet another clash for the crown at 86kg.

Burroughs stayed aggressive throughout his 9-2 victory over Ali UMARPASHAEV (BUL), scoring three stepouts along with a pair of takedowns to stay on track for a sixth world title dating back to his first in 2011. He also has three world bronzes on his gleaming resume.

Standing in his way will be Mohammad NOKHODI (IRI), who advanced with a 5-4 victory over Vasyl MYKHAILOV (UKR) to set up a rematch of the final a year ago in Oslo which Burroughs won 5-1.

Nokhodi took the lead with an activity point and a takedown in the first period, before 2020 European bronze medalist Mykhailov came back with a takedown in the second. Later on, a scramble gave them both two points to put Nokhodi up 5-4, and that's how it ended.

Hassan YAZDANI (IRI)Hassan YAZDANI (IRI) and David TAYLOR (USA) set up a mouthwatering clash at 86kg. (Photo: UWW / Kadir Caliskan)

Yazdani and Taylor set up their fifth career match-up and third in a major final with their third technical fall victories of the day, all without conceding a point.

"I hope we both have a good performance to make wrestling fans happy," Yazdani said. "I will do my best and I ask Iranian people to pray for me."

Yazdani was a whirlwind of action in piling up points from the get-go against an overmatched Boris MAKOEV (SVK), ending the match with a takedown to win 10-0 in 1:54.

By making the final, Yazdani assured himself of a combined eight world and Olympic medals, the most-ever by an Iranian and breaking a tie with legends Gholamreza TAKHTI and Hamid SOURIAN.

"I don't think about such records," he said. "I just want to make fans happy with my performance."

Taylor took a little longer. He only had an activity point to show for his efforts in the first period against Asian champion Azamat DAULETBEKOV (KAZ), but turned on the burners in the second, when he reeled off four straight takedowns before finishing the job at 5:12 with an exposure. An unsuccessful challenge made the final score 11-0.

Taylor leads the head-to-head series with Yazdani 3-1, including a 4-3 win in the final at the Tokyo Olympics. Yazdani finally came out on top two months later at the World Championships in Oslo, where he won the gold with a 6-2 win.

At 125kg, a weight class that included five Olympic medalists in the field, Lkhagvagerel MUNKHTUR (MGL) scored the biggest victory of his career when he toppled one of the giants of the division, while two-time former world champion Taha AKGUL (TUR) pulled off a thrilling last-second victory to dethrone reigning champion Amir ZARE (IRI).

Both victories avenged losses from a year ago in Oslo.

Munkhtur showed no fear in facing three-time world champion and two-time Olympic medalist Geno PETRIASHVILI (GEO), and he was the dominant force in forging out a 4-2 win. It was quite a change from the 11-1 pasting Petriavishili handed him in the second round in Oslo.

On Thursday, Munkhtur got a stepout in the first period, then added a takedown and a stepout in the second to pad the lead. Petriashvili finally got on the scoreboard with a takedown, but that would be all for the Olympic silver medalist.

In the other semifinal, Zare was on the brink of repeating his semifinal win in Oslo over Akgul when the wily Turk spun out of a single-leg takedown attempt and got behind with :01 on the clock for a 4-2 victory.

At 70kg, there is never a dull moment in a match involving the unorthodox Taishi NARIKUNI (JPN), who bulled his way to a takedown with :20 left for a wild 11-10 victory over Ernazar AKMATALIEV (KGZ) in a repeat of the final at this year's Asian Championships.

Both wrestlers had 4-point moves, including Narikuni's dazzling lateral drop with :05 left in the first period. The Japanese, whose mother was a two-time world champion in the 1990s, trailed 10-6 midway through the second period before launching a furious comeback.

In the final, Narikuni will take on Zain RETHERFORD (USA), who has looked impressive in ousting 2021 bronze medalist Zurabi IAKOBISHVILI (GEO) 7-0.

Retherford, a three-time NCAA champion at Penn State, had appeared at two previous World Championships at 65kg, but with little success, and seems to have found his niche at 70kg, going unscored upon in four matches.

 

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Day 6 Results

Freestyle

70kg (28 entries)
Semifinal - Zain RETHERFORD (USA) df. Zurabi IAKOBISHVILI (GEO), 7-0
Semifinal - Taishi NARIKUNI (JPN) df. Ernazar AKMATALIEV (KGZ), 11-10

79kg (32 entries)
Semifinal - Jordan BURROUGHS (USA) df. Ali UMARPASHAEV (BUL), 9-2
Semifinal - Mohammad NOKHODI (IRI) df. Vasyl MYKHAILOV (UKR), 5-4

86kg (30 entries)
Semifinal - David TAYLOR (USA) df. Azamat DAULETBEKOV (KAZ) by TF, 12-0, 5:12
Semifinal - Hassan YAZDANI (IRI) df. Boris MAKOEV (SVK) by TF, 10-0. 1:34

125kg (24 entries)
Semifinal - Taha AKGUL (TUR) df. Amir ZARE (IRI), 4-2
Semifinal - Lkhagvagerel MUNKHTUR (MGL) df. Geno PETRIASHVILI (GEO), 4-2

Women's Wrestling

57kg (19 entries)
Gold - Tsugumi SAKURAI (JPN) df. Helen MAROULIS (USA), 3-0

Bronze - Anhelina LYSAK (POL) df. Davaachimeg ERKHEMBAYAR (MGL), 10-6
Bronze - Alina HRUSHYNA (UKR) df. Zhala ALIYEVA (AZE) by TF, 10-0, 3:45

59kg (14 entries)
Gold - Anastasia NICHITA (MDA) df. Grace BULLEN (NOR), 4-1

Bronze - Jowita WRZESIEN (POL) df. Erdenesuvd BAT ERDENE (MGL), 4-2
Bronze - Sakura MOTOKI (JPN) df. Qi ZHANG (CHN) by Fall, 3:46 (7-0)

68kg (23 entries)
Gold - Tamyra MENSAH STOCK (USA) df. Ami ISHII (JPN) by Fall, 2:11 (6-0)

Bronze - Linda MORAIS (CAN) df. Nisha DAHIYA (IND) by Fall, 2:45 (4-4)
Bronze - Irina RINGACI (MDA) df. Feng ZHOU (CHN) by Fall, :51 (4-0)

72kg (14 entries)
Gold - Amit ELOR (USA) df. Zhamila BAKBERGENOVA (KAZ) by TF, 10-0, 1:13

Bronze - Masako FURUICHI (JPN) df. Buse CAVUSOGLU TOSUN (TUR), 3-2
Bronze - Alexandra ANGHEL (ROU) df. Svetlana OKNAZAROVA (UZB) by TF, 10-0, 4:54

#WrestleBelgrade

In World Championships of upsets, Cuba's Rosillo stuns Aleksanyan

By Ken Marantz

BELGRADE, Serbia (September 23) -- One night after seeing one of the sport's living legends suffer a shocking last-second defeat, it was deja vu all over again as unheralded Gabriel ROSILLO (CUB) took down the titan Artur ALEKSANYAN (ARM).

Rosillo stunned Aleksanyan and the wrestling world by scoring a takedown with 21 seconds left to deny the Armenian superstar a fifth world title, beating him 3-3 on last-point criteria in the 97kg final of Greco-Roman at the World Championships in Belgrade on Saturday.

"I trained well for these World Championships," Rosillo said. "I was thinking of winning the gold medal and trained so hard to get it."

The crowd at Stark Arena was earlier treated to a freewheeling display of big-throw wrestling in the 60kg final, in which Zholaman SHARSHENBEKOV (KGZ) defended his title with a wild 11-6 win over Tokyo Olympic silver medalist and two-time former champion Kenichiro FUMITA (JPN).

Meanwhile, Ibrahim GHANEM (FRA) won the gold in the non-Olympic weight class of 72kg, making him the fourth Greco world champion in French history and the first since 2014.

All medalists and the winners of a special fifth-place playoff in the Olympic weight classes secured qualifying spots at the 2024 Paris Olympics. The remaining quotas will be filled at the continental qualifiers and last-chance world qualifiers.

Gabriel ROSILLO (CUB)Gabriel ROSILLO (CUB) scores the match-winning arm drag against Artur ALEKSANYAN (ARM). (Photo: UWW / Kostadin Andonov)

There could hardly have been more of a contrast between the competitors in the 97kg final. The 24-year-old Rosillo came into Belgrade with a 2019 world U20 title at the top of his resume, while Aleksanyan could boast an Olympic medal of every color to go with seven world medals.

The Cuban had lost in the first round of the Tokyo Olympics, where Aleksanyan had taken the silver medal, and in his only other appearance at a World Championships in 2019, he lost in the second round. Aleksanyan finished second in that tournament, too.

And Rosillo missed a year and a half in 2020 when he contracted both COVID and dengue fever and was burned in a fire at his home in Santiago.

"I had to make up for lost time," he said."I could do it with the help of the Cuban people and my coaches."

On Saturday night, Rosillo ignored the past and beat the odds, just as Amir MIRZAZADEH (IRI) did the night before. The Iranian scored a late stepout to stun the great Riza KAYAALP (TUR) for the 130kg gold.

But at least Mirzazadeh had been a past world champion himself; Rosillo had to punch well above his weight to pull this miracle off.

Rosillo received the first passivity point but could hardly budge Aleksanyan in par terre, and the outcome appeared inevitable when Aleksanyan scored a gut wrench from the top position in the second period to go ahead 3-1.

In his previous three matches, the 31-year-old Aleksanyan had immediately finished off a technical fall from par terre with four straight rolls. By only getting one off Rosillo, it kept the match going. Few would have ever foreseen what transpired.

With a half-minute to go, the two were jostling for wrist control when Rosillo suddenly hit an arm drag and took Aleksanyan to the mat for a takedown. When the whistle stopped the action with :08 on the clock, the stunned Aleksanyan was slow to get up, and Rosillo held on as time ran out on his historic victory.

Rosillo said his defeat in Tokyo provided a wake-up call. "I understood that I have to have a stronger heart and get better in each phase of the battle, and to never give up even when I feel tired," he said.

Regarding the ticket to Paris that comes with his remarkable run to the gold, he said, "My coach is expecting a lot from me. I know I still have to work hard on my stamina."

Zholaman SHARSHENBEKOV (KGZ)Zholaman SHARSHENBEKOV (KGZ), blue, won his second world title and denied Kenichiro FUMITA (JPN) his third. (Photo: UWW / Kadir Caliskan)

In the 60kg final, Sharshenbekov chalked up two 4-point moves in fending off the energetic Fumita in a match that saw 15 points put on the board in the first 90 seconds.

Fumita, who had to settle for a bronze medal in Belgrade last year after winning world titles in 2017 and 2019, had told the Japanese press after the semifinals that he was content with a "boring" style of wrestling.

But he reverted back to his big-throw ways when he attempted an arm throw in the opening seconds, only to see Sharshenbekov stuff it for 4. Fumita responded with a stepout, then connected on a 2-point throw.

Sharshenbekov, who won his second straight Asian title in April, got the picture and when the two locked up, he slammed Fumita to the mat for another 4-pointer, adding a gut wrench for 2. Fumita reversed to the back for 2, leaving him down 10-5. The two each had a stepout to make it 11-6 as the first period ended.

The fireworks of the first period were never reignited in the second as the two parried each other in a never-ending flurry of action. Fumita hit a couple of sweet arm throws, but Sharshenbekov was able to land on his feet to avoid giving up points.

"In recent years, my opponents have tightened their defense and been on their guard against me," Fumita said. "He was really like that. I made the attacks and he absorbed the blows. I thought that I had to keep attacking, even if it was all-or-nothing or not a very good attack. It made me realize that I have to have confidence in my style."

Sharshenbekov increased his stash of world medals to four, having finished second in both 2018 and 2021 before striking gold last year.

"It is wrong to say that I won the gold medal only by myself," he said. "The whole team worked hard for me to win this. I was ready. I saw the draw but didn’t care about my opponents. I was ready for everyone."

A year ago, Fumita was dealt a heartbreaking 5-5 loss in the semifinals by Edmond NAZARYAN (BUL), who Sharshenbekov then proceeded to beat 11-2 to take the gold.

The two had met once previously, with the Japanese coming out on top 4-0 in the final of the 2020 Asian Championships. In that match, Fumita had scored off a counter for the decisive points.

Five months later they both advanced to the gold-medal match at the Wladyslaw Pytlasinski Cup in Warsaw, but the rematch never happened as Sharshenbekov defaulted due to injury.

"I wrestled Fumita in New Delhi and lost," Sharshenbekov said. "But three years have passed since then and I prepared for this. I have worked hard for this and I was able to win because of that."

Ibrahim GHANEM (FRA)Ibrahim GHANEM (FRA) became the first world champion from France in nine years. (Photo: UWW / Kadir Caliskan)

At 72kg, Ghanem finished second in Europe this year but now is on top of the world after posting a solid 3-0 victory in the final over 2022 European champion Robert FRITSCH (HUN). 

Ghanem, who lost in a bronze-medal match last year, moved straight to the top of the podium by gaining a passivity point in the first period and adding a snap-down-go-behind takedown in the second.

Fritsch tried to come back by securing a front headlock several times, but Ghanem squirmed out of the predicament and held on to become France's first Greco champion since Melonin NOUMONVI (FRA) triumphed at 85kg in 2014 in Tashkent.

Mohammadhadi SARAVI (IRI)Mohammadhadi SARAVI (IRI) took the bronze medal and a Paris Olympic quota for Iran at 97kg. (Photo: UWW / Amirreza Aliasgari)

Saravi takes 2nd straight bronze

In the bronze-medal matches, Mohammadhadi SARAVI (IRI) found a place on the third-highest step of the podium for the second straight year by defeating teenager Abubakar KHASLAKHANAU (AIN) 4-2 at 97kg.

Saravi, the 2021 world champion, scored a roll-off par terre to take a 3-0 lead in the first period, then added a stepout in the second to clinch a Paris quota for Iran.

Artur OMAROV (CZE) continued a run of third-place finishes this year, getting a gut wrench from par terre in the second period of a 3-1 victory over Mindaugas VENCKAITIS (LTU) in the other 97kg bronze-medal match.

Omarov came to Belgrade have placed third at the European Championships, the Ranking Series events in Bishkek and Alexandria, and at the Wladyslaw Pytlasinski Cup. It was the Czech Republic's first Greco-Roman medal at a World Championships since 2007.

Liguo CAO (CHN)Liguo CAO (CHN) defeated Gevorg GHARIBYAN (ARM) 5-3 to earn a bronze medal and Paris 2024 quota for China at 60kg. (Photo: UWW / Amirreza Aliasgari)

At 60kg, Liguo CAO (CHN) finished off the winning takedown with two seconds left on the clock to stun Gevorg GHARIBYAN (ARM) 5-3 at 60kg and add the world bronze to the Asian one he won earlier this year, plus an Olympic berth for China.

Gharibyan, the 2020 European champion, matched Cao with a passivity point and a roll from par terre to lead 3-3 on criteria. With time running out, Cao used an underhook to slip behind, then battled to get Gharibyan to the mat. The knee came down at the :02 mark.

Former Asian champion Islomjon BAKHRAMOV (UZB) won the other 60kg bronze with a hard-fought 3-3 victory over Mehdi MOHSEN NEJAD (IRI).

The result and score were an exact repeat of the outcome of their semifinal encounter at the Bishkek Ranking Series event in June, in which Bakhramov went on to win the gold.

At 72kg, dethroned defending champion Ali ARSALAN (SRB) came out charging from the opening whistle and young Shingo HARADA (JPN) never knew what hit him, falling to a 9-0 technical fall in just 32 seconds.

Arsalan, looking a lot more energetic than he did at the end of his exhausting semifinal loss to Fritsch, blasted to a stepout just 10 seconds into the match, then on the restart, pancaked Harada onto his back for 4.

Scrambling onto the top, Arsalan never took his foot off the gas, reeling off two quick gut wrenches to end the match to the thrill of the home crowd and give the host nation its first Greco medal of the tournament and third overall. Arsalan competed for his native Iran up to 2021 before moving to Serbia.

Harada made his mark in his senior world debut, having rallied to beat 2022 silver medalist Ulvi GANIZADE (AZE) in the quarterfinals.

Selcuk CAN (TUR) picked up his second straight bronze medal at 72kg, getting the second passivity point in a 1-1 victory over Stoyan KUBATOV (BUL) on last-point criteria.

Mehdi MOHSEN NEJAD (IRI)Mehdi MOHSEN NEJAD (IRI) grapped the Paris Olympic quota for Iran at 60kg by winning the playoff. (Photo: UWW / Amirreza Aliasgari)

Mohsen Nejad grabs Paris spot for Iran

Mohsen Nejad returned to the mat to give Iran its third berth in Paris of the four Olympic weight classes competed so far, defeating Gharibyan 7-0 in the fifth-place match at 60kg.

Mohsen Nejad, with the right shoulder that appeared to bother him during the bronze-medal match heavily taped, scored all of his points in the first period, gaining a stepout off a whizzer, shrugging Gharibyan by for takedown and adding a pair of gut wrenches.

There was little action from the exhausted pair in the second period and Gharibyan all but gave up the fight with plenty of time still on the clock.

Khaslakhanau claimed the other Paris quota up for grabs, uncorking a mighty 4-point throw in the second period that knocked the fight out of Venckaitis, who conceded the fall at 97kg.

g

Greco-Roman

60kg (40 entries)
GOLD: Zholaman SHARSHENBEKOV (KGZ) df. Kenichiro FUMITA (JPN), 11-6

BRONZE: Liguo CAO (CHN) df. Gevorg GHARIBYAN (ARM), 5-3
BRONZE: Islomjon BAKHRAMOV (UZB) df. Mehdi MOHSEN NEJAD (IRI), 3-3

5th-Place Playoff: Mehdi MOHSEN NEJAD (IRI) df. Gevorg GHARIBYAN (ARM), 7-0

63kg (24 entries)
GOLD: Leri ABULADZE (GEO) vs. Murad MAMMADOV (AZE)

Semifinal: Leri ABULADZE (GEO) df. Stefan CLEMENT (FRA), 3-1
Semifinal: Murad MAMMADOV (AZE) df. Georgij TIBILOV (SRB), 4-1

67kg (41 entries)
GOLD: Luis ORTA (CUB) vs. Hasrat JAFAROV (AZE)
 
Semifinal: Luis ORTA (CUB) df. Amantur ISMAILOV (KGZ) by TF, 9-1, 3:19
Semifinal: Hasrat JAFAROV (AZE) df. Slavik GALSTYAN (ARM), 4-3

72kg (24 entries)
GOLD: Ibrahim GHANEM (FRA) df. Robert FRITSCH (HUN), 3-0

BRONZE: Selcuk CAN (TUR) df. Stoyan KUBATOV (BUL), 1-1
BRONZE: Ali ARSALAN (SRB) df. Shingo HARADA (JPN) by TF, 9-0, :32

87kg (42 entries)
GOLD: Ali CENGIZ (TUR) vs. David LOSONCZI (HUN)

Semifinal: Ali CENGIZ (TUR) df. Nursultan TURSYNOV (KAZ) by Fall, 2:18 (5-3)
Semifinal: David LOSONCZI (HUN) df. Semen NOVIKOV (BUL) by TF, 10-0, 2:13

97kg (37 entries)
GOLD: Gabriel ROSILLO (CUB) df. Artur ALEKSANYAN (ARM), 3-1

BRONZE: Artur OMAROV (CZE) df. Mindaugas VENCKAITIS (LTU), 3-1
BRONZE: Mohammadhadi SARAVI (IRI) df. Abubakar KHASLAKHANAU (AIN), 4-1

5th-Place Playoff: Abubakar KHASLAKHANAU (AIN) df. Mindaugas VENCKAITIS (LTU) by
Fall, (5-1)