#WrestleWarsaw

Saravi Dominates #WrestleWarsaw to Claim Spot on Iran Olympic Team

By Vinay Siwach

WARSAW, Poland (June 13) --- After the 97kg Greco-Roman final, Mehdi BALIHAMZEHDEH (IRI) went up to the judge to seek answers. His actions were justified as he had not only lost the gold medal to compatriot Mohammadhadi SARAVI (IRI) but also the opportunity to represent Iran at the Tokyo Olympics.

Iran, treating the Poland Open as the selection trial for Tokyo Games, had entered the two and on Sunday, they dominated the field and reached the final. This was the last category that was undecided for Iran after three freestyle and one Greco-Roman class finalized in Warsaw.

 

Poland Open

They had to wait till the end of the day as it was the final bout and then more as both Iran wrestlers had mistakenly wore opposite singlets. 50 seconds into the bout they changed the singlets and resumed the bout. Saravi got the advantage of Balihamzehdeh being passive in the first period and he got an exposure to lead 3-0.

Balihamzehdeh was hoping that Saravi will be warned for inactivity as well but that did not happen as the latter kept on the pressure throughout the period. It ended 3-0 in favour of Saravi, completing the Iran team for the upcoming Games.

His gold medal also pushes him to third position in the Tokyo seeding as he collected 16 points. His total of 52 points takes him ahead of Cenk ILDEM (TUR) who is now out of the seeding.

Tadeusz MICHALIK (POL) finished fifth in Warsaw and collected 10 points for a total of 42 to edge past Ildem by a point.

There was no other major shuffle in the Olympic seedings for the weight classes that were in action on Sunday.

At 87kg, veteran Uzbek wrestler Rustam ASSAKALOV (UZB) won a bronze medal to collect 12 points but that doesn't change his third position in the seedings.

Semen NAVIKOV

The gold medal was captured but he upcoming star and two-time U23 world champion Semen NAVIKOV (UKR). In the final, he defeated Istvan TAKACS (HUN) 2-1 with all points scored on referees call.

Takacs had earlier stopped Rio Olympic bronze medalist Assakalov's run in the tournament with a 2-1 win in the semifinal. The Uzbek then came back in the bronze medal bout against Arkadiusz KULYNYCZ (POL) with a big fall.

The next big thing in Ukrainian wrestling Navikov will not be at the Olympics as another star wrestler Zhan BELENIUK (UKR) is scheduled to wrestle in the Japanese capital city.

In the remaining three weight categories, hosts Poland captured two gold medals while the third went to Uzbekistan.

Michal TRACZ (POL) wrestled Ekrem OZTURK (TUR) in the 60kg final and held on for 3-2 win for his home country. In the nordic style bracket, he won two bouts to reach the semifinal in which he came out on top against Mukhammadkodir YUSUPOV (UZB) 3-2.

Ozturk had a back-and-forth semifinal against Olivier SKRZYPCZAK (POL) as the two scored 26 points in the stipulated six minutes. In the end, Ozturk won 15-11 to reach the final.

Gevorg SAHAKYAN (POL) won the second gold medal for Poland as he defeated Mirzobek RAKHMATOV (UZB) 4-3 in the 72kg final.

The Pole had some tough bouts throughout the day as he began with a 3-1 win against Krisztian VANCZA (HUN) 3-1 before pulling through a 1-1 win against compatriot Roman PACURKOWSKI (POL).

From the other side, Rakhmatov defeated Juan AAK (NOR) 9-0 in the qualification before clinching a 7-0 win over Mateusz BERNATEK (POL) in the quarterfinal. He had a tough one against Cengiz ARSLAN (TUR) in the semifinal but managed to pull off 5-4.

Uzbekistan did get it's gold medal on Sunday as five-time ranking series finalist Islomjon BAKHRAMOV (UZB) managed to hang on and defeat Ayata SUZUKI (JPN) 5-3 in the 63kg final. Suzuki was awarded a point for Bakhramov's passivity and he later got an exposure from par terre to lead 3-0. But Bakhramov reversed it and completed a head-pinch to make it 3-2.

In the second period, he got the point for Suzuki's inactivity and then exposed him from the par terre position to lead 5-3. The Japanese did try quite a few arm throws but failed to get any points.

From Japan, world champion Kenichiro FUMITA (JPN) was also scheduled to make the Poland trip but pulled out at the last moment due to unforeseen circumstances. Fumita has now not competed internationally since winning the gold medal at the Asian Championships in New Delhi in February, 2020.

Poland Open 63kg

RESULTS

60kg
GOLD: Michal TRACZ (POL) df Ekrem OZTURK (TUR), 3-2
BRONZE: Mukhammadkodir YUSUPOV (UZB) df Olivier SKRZYPCZAK (POL), 10-2

63kg
GOLD: Islomjon BAKHRAMOV (UZB) df. Ayata SUZUKI (JPN), 5-3
BRONZE: Christopher KRAEMER (GER) df. Artor HAGERUP (NOR), via fall
BRONZE: Krisztian KECSKEMETI (HUN) df. Mairbek SALIMOV (POL), 4-0

72kg
GOLD: Gevorg SAHAKYAN (POL) df. Mirzobek RAKHMATOV (UZB), 4-3
BRONZE: Cengiz ARSLAN (TUR) df. Juan AAK (NOR), 2-1
BRONZE: Krisztian VANCZA (HUN) df. Roman PACURKOWSKI (POL), 3-1

87kg
GOLD: Semen NOVIKOV (UKR) df. Istvan TAKACS (HUN), 2-1
BRONZE: Rustam ASSAKALOV (UZB) df. Arkadiusz KULYNYCZ (POL), via fall
BRONZE: Metehan BASAR (TUR) df. Bachir SID AZARA (ALG), 1-1

97kg
GOLD: Mohammadhadi SARAVI (IRI) df. Mehdi BALIHAMZEHDEH (IRI), 3-0
BRONZE: Arvi SAVOLAINEN (FIN) df. Tadeusz MICHALIK (POL), 2-1
BRONZE: Islam ABBASOV (AZE) df. Gerard Cyprian KURNICZAK (POL), 4-0

#WrestleWarsaw

Chamizo Cements 74kg Tokyo Top Seed with Silver at Poland Open

By Vinay Siwach

WARSAW, Poland (June 9) – Having already locked up the top seed for Tokyo Olympics, Frank CHAMIZO (ITA) landed in Warsaw with a single goal of getting into wrestling form before the Games.

By the end of the day, he cemented his spot as the top-seeded wrestler at 74kg at the Olympic Games after winning Ranking Series silver, forfeiting the 74kg final on Wednesday.

The two-time world champion came into the Poland Open with a two-point advantage (62 points) over fellow two-time world gold medalist Zaurbek SIDAKOV (RUS). Despite settling for the silver medal on Wednesday, Chamizo collected 14 points Ranking Series points and sits atop the Tokyo ranks with 76 points.

Poland Open

“I wrestled three matches, and in the last one, it was getting a little hard on my shoulder,” Chamizo said. “I didn't wrestle the final because I am number one in the rankings and I have a lot of points. So next stop is Olympics.”

Perhaps it was the shoulder that was stopping him from going all out on Wednesday as he had close wins -- especially the semifinal. His Ukrainian opponent Semen RADULOV rallied back to score four points in the final minute after trailing 5-0. But Chamizo hung on for the win.

“I am chilling. I don't want to get hurt, do something wrong because Olympics is so close,” he said. “I want to take care of myself. Poland Open is not tough level so I was going easy.”

The next stop for the Italian will be Tokyo and he doesn't want to leave any stone unturned going into the second Games of the career.

“I am trying to getting better physically. I want to breathe better, like a Ferrari. Consistent and training hard and trying to get to the top in my training. I can't wait to be at the Olympics. It's a big moment and I want to live my dream. I am going to try and fight for my medal,” he said.

Also at 74kg, Daniyar KAISANOV (KAZ) claimed the bronze medal and improved his seed at the Tokyo Olympic Games. He scored 12 points and leapfrogged Zaurbek SIDAKOV (RUS) for the second seed. The Kazakh wrestler now has 69 points.

After removing wrestlers who we know won’t compete in Tokyo -- Jordan BURROUGHS (USA), Murad KURAMAGOMEDOV (HUN) and Soner DEMIRTAS (TUR) -- the top four seeds in Tokyo will be Chamizo, Kaisanov, Sidakov and Franklin GOMEZ MATOS (PUR), respectively.

At 61kg, Gulomjon ABDULLAEV (UZB) shocked world bronze medalist Ravi KUMAR (IND) en route to winning gold. He had stunned another bronze medalist Nurislam SANAYEV (KAZ) in the semifinals.

Abdullaev allowed his Indian opponent to capitalize on a late right-legged attack with three seconds left in the period and trailed 2-1 after the opening frame. In the closing period, the Uzbek flipped the script and struck twice on a pair of takedowns and never looked back. He surrendered a stepout point but hung on to win the match, 5-3.

Abdullaev vs Ravi Poland

Earlier in the day, Ravi had earned a 10-1 win over the same opponent before defeated Adlan ASKAROV (KAZ), Nathan TOMASELLO (USA) and Reza ATRINAGHARCHI (IRI) to reach the final.

“It was a tournament that I wanted to play before the Olympics,” Kumar said. “I wanted to check myself and I learned a lot. Hopefully, I don't make the mistakes again.”

“I was really slow at the start and I have to change it a lot. Sometimes the body isn't active enough and that was it.”

Despite falling to world bronze medalist Iszmail MUSZUKAJEV (HUN) in the morning session’s pool-play action, John DIAKOMIHALIS (USA) cruised to a three-point win over Eduard GRIGOREV (POL) in the 65kg gold-medal match and won his second career Poland Open gold medal.

In the first period, Diakomihalis scored a pair of takedowns and was awarded a fifth point from a failed Polish challenge. He struck early in the second period with a shot attempt that resulted in a step out at extended his lead to 6-1. The American closed out the match with another stepout and claimed his second Ranking Series title and first since winning the ’19 Yasar Dogu.

“He [Muszukajev] is very skilled and athletic,” Diakomihalis said. “I can wrestle with him but with guys like that who are explosive and then fade away a little bit, you have to have the right tactics. I thought I did.

“Fortunately I am able to go back and learn by watching the video. But it did expose a lot of weaknesses.”

Muszukajev later forfeited his bouts denying a possibility of a rematch with the American in the final. Instead, Grigorev made it to the final and captured the silver medal.

The home country did have a champion. Zbigniew BARANOWSKI (POL) claimed the gold medal in the 92kg final after a 12-3 win over Illia ARCHAIA (UKR), giving the home country something to cheer about.

The final saw a series of takedowns from Baranowski and a solid defensive performance which kept any attacks of Archaia away.

The Ukrainian had upset two-time world champion J'den COX (USA) in the semifinal with a 2-1 win. After being called for passivity, Archaia managed to pull off a takedown late in the second period and fend off an attack from Cox with a powerful pull of his leg.

Cox later did not wrestle for the bronze medal as he suffered cramps and continuous vomiting.

At 125kg, Amir ZARE (IRI) smothered Nicholas GWIAZDOWSKI (USA) in the finals, winning his second Ranking Series title after the two-time world bronze medalist was dinged with three fleeing the hold calls. Zare, who led 5-1 at the time of the third caution, used a right-ride underhook to dominate the match and only need 2 minutes and 40 seconds to score the bulldozing win.

The gold medal also won Zare the spot on the Iran team for the Olympics. Amin Hossein TAHERI (IRI) was also competing for the spot but he suffered a 6-3 loss to Youssif HEMIDA (EGY) in the quarterfinals.

Iran Undecided for 74kg

Iran, treating the Poland Open as a selection trial for their Olympic team, are yet to finalize the freestyle team. It arrived in Warsaw with 74kg, 97kg and 125kg as undecided but after two days of competition, they are yet to confirm the 74kg representative.

Mohammad MOHAMMADIAN (IRI) at 97kg and Amir ZARE (IRI) at 125kg were confirmed for the Tokyo team.

Vice-president of the Iran Wrestling Federation Hamid SOURIAN told UWW that they will take a decision at 74kg after conducting a technical committee meeting in Theran.

“We will sit with the committee and decided whether or not to host a trial for 74kg,” Sourian said. “For now, the 74kg weight class is the only undecided for Iran.”

On Wednesday, Mostafa HOSSEINKHANI (IRI) and Yones EMAMICHOGHAEI (IRI) were entered and were on collision course but Khadzhimurad GADZHIYEV (AZE) played spoilsport for Iran.

Both Iran wrestlers were to meet in the semifinal but Emamichoghaei lost to Gadzhiyev 4-2 before Hosseinkhani defeated the Azerbaijan wrestler 3-0 in the semifinal.

The Iran federation were planning to host the trial in Warsaw after the competition but decided to cancel it at the last moment keeping the fans waiting for the final team announcement.

125kg Podium

Freestyle

61kg
GOLD - Gulomjon ABDULLAEV (UZB) df Ravi KUMAR (IND), 5-3
BRONZE - Nurislam SANAYEV (KAZ) df Reza Ahmadali ATRINAGHARCHI (IRI), 5-0

65kg
GOLD -John Michael DIAKOMIHALIS (USA) df. Eduard GRIGOREV (POL), 7-3
BRONZE - Joseph Christopher MC KENNA (USA) df. Vasyl SHUPTAR (UKR), via forfiet

74kg
GOLD -Mostafa Mohabbali HOSSEINKHANI (IRI) df. Frank CHAMIZO MARQUEZ (ITA), via inj. def.
BRONZE - Daniyar KAISANOV (KAZ) df. Semen RADULOV (UKR), 5-2
BRONZE - Khadzhimurad GADZHIYEV (AZE) df. Kamil RYBICKI (POL), 9-1

92kg
GOLD - Zbigniew BARANOWSKI (POL) df. Illia ARCHAIA (UKR), 12-3
BRONZE - Nathan Dyamin JACKSON (USA) df. Rustam SHODIEV (UZB), 12-0
BRONZE - Krzysztof Grzegorz SADOWIK (POL) df. Jden Tbory COX (USA), via inj. def.

125kg
GOLD – Amir ZARE (IRI) df. Nicholas GWIAZDOWSKI (USA), via disqualification
BRONZE - Yusup BATIRMURZAEV (KAZ) vs. Youssif HEMIDA (EGY), 13-2
BRONZE - Oleksandr KOLDOVSKYI (UKR) df. Diaaeldin Kamal Gouda ABDELMOTTALEB (EGY), 7-0