Saravi, Mirzazadeh shine in Bishkek

Thursday, June 1, 2023 - 19:29 By Vinay Siwach

BISHKEK, Kyrgyzstan (June 1) -- Two of Iran's biggest Greco-Roman stars got their preparations for the World Championships underway with gold medals.

Mohammadhadi SARAVI (IRI) and Amin MIRZAZADEH (IRI) won the 97kg and 130kg weight classes respectively at the Kaba Uulu Kozhomkul & Raatbek Sanatbaev Ranking Series event in Bishkek on Monday.

Saravi, who has not competed since winning a bronze medal at the World Championships in September 2022, returned to the mat and powered himself to the top of the podium in a 25-2 rout of his opponents.

While he controlled all his bouts, the most significant win for Saravi was over compatriot Mehdi BALIHAMZEHDEH (IRI) in the semifinals. This also makes him the front-runner to represent Iran at the World Championships in Belgrade in September.

Balihamzehdeh was hoping to earn a place on the national team but his 7-1 loss to Saravi all but closes the doors for him.

In the final, Saravi was up against Yiming LI (CHN) and walked to a 3-1 win to clinch the gold. He got the turn from pat terre while Li failed to do the same which proved to be the difference between the two.

Amin MIRZAZADEH (IRI) defeated Oscar PINO (CUB) 2-1 in the final. (Photo: UWW / Kadir Caliskan)

Mirzazadeh, a world silver medalist, claimed two confidence-boosting wins, first over Osman YILDIRIM (TUR) who defeated him a year ago in Almaty and second over 2019 world silver medalist and Pan-American champion Oscar PINO (CUB) at 130kg.

After winning the Asian Championships last month, Mirzazadeh came into Bishkek with the same form and faced Yilidrim 4-1. Yildirim had beaten Mirzazadeh in Almaty in 2022 at the Bolat Turlykhanov Cup.

In a bout worthy of being a World Championships final, Pino began as the favorite in the final but as Mirzazadeh build pressure, he tired up and Mirzazadeh gained the upper hand. The two exchanged passivity but Mirzazadeh got an extra stepout to win the medal which has pushed him to the top of the rankings as well, replacing world and European champion Riza KAYAALP (TUR).

"I feel happy to win this gold," Mirzazadeh said. "I worked really hard for this competition. I will do the same to win the gold medal in Belgrade."

On winning against Pino, Mirzazadeh said that it is always difficult to win at 130kg.

"In my weight class, most are good wrestlers," he said. "But I train very hard for the Olympics. My weight has good wrestlers from Turkiye and Cuba but I am training really hard for the gold medal and I am the best."

Another young Iranian who shone in Bishkek was Daniel SHORABI (IRI) who won the 67kg. The U20 and U23 world champion wrestled Abror ATABAEV (UZB) in his first bout and came out on top 7-5. If he thought his next bout be an easier one, Joni KHETSURIANI (GEO) did not let that happen. Despite a barn-burner, it was Shorabi who won 6-5.

In the semifinal, Shorabi defeated Sultan ASSETULY (KAZ) 10-2 and booked a place in the final against HUSIYUETU (CHN) who blanked Olympic champion Luis ORTA (CUB) 9-0, his second win over the Cuban in four months. But Husiyuetu failed to hold up against Shorabi who won the gold medal after a dominating 8-2 win.

Uzbekistan emerged as the second-best team with two gold medals while Georgia and Kazakhstan won one gold each.

In 87kg and 60kg, Jalgasbay BERDIMURATOV (UZB) and Islomjon BAKHRAMOV (UZB) became the champions respectively.

Berdimuratov was up against Nursultan TURSYNOV (KAZ) in the opening round and won 1-1 after getting the second activity point. He faced Melis AITBEKOV (KGZ) and won 9-0 before beating another Kyrgyzstan wrestler Azat SALIDINOV (KGZ) 8-0 in the semifinal.

In the final, Gurami KHETSURIANI (GEO) did put up a fight against Berdimuratov but the Uzbekistan wrestler was strong enough to win 5-3 and capture his first gold medal at 87kg.

"This is my first gold medal in the new weight category," Berdimuratov said. "This medal gives me strength and self-confidence and now I will try to win gold in the next championships."

Berdimuratov has spent a major part of his career at 82kg and won a silver medalist at this weight class in Belgrade as well. But with Paris Olympics approaching, he switched to 87kg, an Olympic weight class.

"For me, this is a comfortable weight," he said. "I have prepared a lot for this weight and preparations are still going on. I lost earlier and now I have begun to win and believe in myself."

The Uzbekistan wrestler was performing at the new weight class at the Zagreb Ranking Series as well but he says that those were his early days at the weight.

"In Zagreb, I was not ready for this weight," he said. "But I continued to work on myself, then I placed third in Asia and now won here I won gold. I am not preparing for a certain wrestler. Whoever is in the draw, I will fight."

Bakhramov, a three-time Ranking Series gold medalist, added a fourth gold as he defeated Nursultan BAZARBAYEV (KAZ), 6-0, in the final to give Uzbekistan its second gold medal of the night.

Uzbekistan could have won a third gold medal but world bronze medalist Ikhtiyor BOTIROV (UZB) suffered a 4-2 defeat at the hands of Marlan MUKASHEV (KAZ) at 55kg.

At 63kg, world silver medalist and European champion Leri ABULADZE (GEO) denied Uzbekistan another gold medal as he defeated Shermukhammad SHARIBJANOV (UZB), 7-4 in the final.

RESULTS

55kg
GOLD: Marlan MUKASHEV (KAZ) df. Ikhtiyor BOTIROV (UZB), 4-2

BRONZE: MANJEET (IND) df. Yersin ABYIR (KAZ), 14-9
BRONZE: Amangali BEKBOLATOV (KAZ) df. Jasurbek ORTIKBOEV (UZB), 4-1

60kg
GOLD: Islomjon BAKHRAMOV (UZB) df. Nursultan BAZARBAYEV (KAZ), 6-0

BRONZE: Mehdi MOHSEN NEJAD (IRI) df. Aftandil TAALAIBEK UULU (KGZ), 8-0
BRONZE: Yernar FIDAKHMETOV (KAZ) df. Balbai DORDOKOV (KGZ), 11-6

63kg
GOLD: Leri ABULADZE (GEO) df. Shermukhammad SHARIBJANOV (UZB), 7-4

BRONZE: Dastan KADYROV (KGZ) df. Baiaman KARIMOV (KGZ), 9-0
BRONZE: Iman MOHAMMADI (IRI) df. Geminghan REHETI (CHN), 6-0

67kg
GOLD: Danial SOHRABI (IRI) df. HUSIYUETU (CHN), 8-2

BRONZE: Abror ATABAEV (UZB) df. Sultan ASSETULY (KAZ), 11-1
BRONZE: Luis ORTA (CUB) df. Mahmud BAKHSHILLOEV (UZB), 7-1

87kg
GOLD: Jalgasbay BERDIMURATOV (UZB) df. Gurami KHETSURIANI (GEO), 5-3

BRONZE: Nursultan TURSYNOV (KAZ) df. Azat SALIDINOV (KGZ), via inj. def.
BRONZE: Ali CENGIZ (TUR) df. Azamat KUSTUBAYEV (KAZ), 1-1

97kg
GOLD: Mohammadhadi SARAVI (IRI) df. Yiming LI (CHN), 3-1

BRONZE: Beksultan MAKHMUDOV (KGZ) df. Zhantas NURGALI (KAZ), 3-1,
BRONZE: Artur OMAROV (CZE) df. Mehdi BALIHAMZEHDEH (IRI), 5-1

130kg
GOLD: Amin MIRZAZADEH (IRI) df. Oscar PINO (CUB), 2-1

BRONZE: Fatih BOZKURT (TUR) df. Sulkhan BUIDZE (GEO), 9-0
BRONZE: Osman YILDIRIM (TUR) df. Alin ALEXUC CIURARIU (ROU), via walkover

2026 U23 European Championships

Yakushenko Marches on With Another Gold

Sunday, March 15, 2026 - 19:31 By Vinay Siwach

ZRENJANIN, Serbia (March 15) -- Since 2024, Yehor YAKUSHENKO (UKR) has suffered only one loss -- to Darius KIEFER (GER) in the final of 2025 U20 European Championships.

On either side of that loss, Yakushenko had won two age-group European and three world titles. He has also avenged that loss to Kiefer and now heads the head-to-head, 4-1, with his latest victory over the German coming on Saturday at the U23 European Championships.

A day later on Sunday, Yakushenko added his second U23 European title after he defeated former U20 world champion and Paris Olympian Abubakr KHASLAKHANAU (BLR), 3-1, in perhaps his toughest match of the tournament.

"This [U23] European Championships was really tough for me," Yakushenko said. "Not as easy as I imagined. I thought it would be easier, but overall I think the hardest fights are still ahead."

In the final, Yakushenko was awarded the first passivity point and the par terre position from wihch he lifted Khaslakhanau and brought him towards the edge of the mat but failed to land the Belarussian wrestler in danger. He was awarded a point for the stepout which gave him a 2-0 lead.

Yehor YAKUSHENKO (UKR) tries to throw Abubakar KHASLAKHANAU (BLR) during the 97kg final. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kostadin Andonov)

Khaslakhanau got his chance in the second period when Yakushenko was put in par terre but failed to score any points. With a 2-1 lead, Yakushenko needed some good defense with two minutes left in the match.

While he had a couple of slip-ups during that time, Yakushenko did not give up any points. He was later warned for fleeing but managed to remain in contact after that. Belarus challenged for fleeing in the last 10 seconds but it was ruled out, adding one more point to Yakushenko's score.

"I had the same plan for all my opponents. It was tough," he said.

This was Yakushenko's third straight win over Khaslakhanau, a senior European bronze medalist and now a two-time U23 world silver medalist to go with his bronze as well.

Yakushenko defeated the Belarus wrestler twice last year -- a 7-3 victory at the U23 European Championships and then a 3-3 win at the U23 World Championships in Novi Sad.

Daniial AGAEV (RUS) completed an 8-0 victory over William REENBERG (DEN) in just 37 seconds. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kostadin Andonov)

Agaev Leads Russia to Team Title

In other finals, Russia won two gold medals while Azerbiajan and Armenia won one gold each.

World bronze medalist Daniial AGAEV (RUS) led an inspired performance from Russia as it won the Greco-Roman team title. Russia won the Freestyle team title as well in Zrenjanin.

With 190 points, Russia was the best team. Armenia managed 113 points to finish second and Georgia finished third with 106 points.

Agaev need only 37 seconds to win his 67kg final against William REENBERG (DEN). He scored a takedown and transitioned into a gut-wrench, winning 8-0.

Rabil ASKEROV (RUS) defeated Oliver PADA (FIN), 6-0, in the 72kg final. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kostadin Andonov)

Russia's second gold medal came at 72kg Rabil ASKEROV (RUS) blanked Oliver PADA (FIN), 6-0, in the final. Wrestling in only his third international tournament, Askerov began the final with a stepout before getting the par terre position. He did not score any points from the position but led 2-0.

An arm-drag to takedown doubled the lead to 4-0 before the break. In the second period, Askerov got another takedown to extend his lead to 6-0. The takedown also ended any hopes for Pada to get the par terre position.

Askerov would defend his 6-0 and win gold, his first major medal.

Suren AGHAJANYAN (ARM) uses the seatbelt grip to throw Giorgi KOCHALIDZE (GEO) during the 60kg final. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kostadin Andonov)

Suren AGHAJANYAN (ARM) captured his first U23 European title after a series of suplex to beat Giorgi KOCHALIDZE (GEO), 9-0, in the 60kg final.

The former U20 champion was awarded the par terre in the first period which gave him a 1-0 lead. Kochalidze did well to defend the position but just as the referee was about to call neutral, Aghajanyan changed to a seatbelt grip and tossed Kochalidze in the opposite direction for two points.

He continued the same move with the seatbelt grip and was awarded four points for the second throw, giving him a 7-0 lead. The third throw was also scored four points, confirming an 11-0 victory for Aghajanyan.

Georgia challenged the decision, hoping that the throws will be scored two points each. But upon review the first throw was scored four points instead of original two points. With the second throw also being a four-pointer, the final was over, 9-0, a technical superiority win for the 2025 U23 world bronze medalist.

Elmin ALIYEV (AZE) celebrates after winning the 82kg final. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kostadin Andonov)

Georgia suffered its second loss in the final at 82kg after Tornike MIKELADZE's (GEO) heartbreak against Elmin ALIYEV (AZE), 3-2.

Aliyev was down 2-0 at the break after giving up a stepout and passivity point in the first period. However, he managed to score a stepout at the start of the second period that later proved to be a crucial moment in the final.

Down 2-1, Aliyev was awarded the par terre position, giving him a 2-2 criteria lead. He failed to score any points from par terre but the criteria of scoring the last points remained with him and that enabled him to win the final.

Georgia threw a late challenge, asking for fleeing from Aliyev. But there was no evident fleeing and Georgia lost the challenge, giving one more point to Aliyev, who won 3-2.

RESULTS

60kg
GOLD: Suren AGHAJANYAN (ARM) df. Giorgi KOCHALIDZE (GEO), 9-0

BRONZE: Yevhen POKOVBA (UKR) df. Aykhan JAVADOV (AZE), 3-1
BRONZE: Ilian AINAOUI (FRA) df. Brian SANTIAGO (DEN), 1-1

67kg
GOLD: Daniial AGAEV (RUS) df. William REENBERG (DEN), 8-0

BRONZE: Azat SARIYAR (TUR) df. Arslanbek SALIMOV (POL), 4-1
BRONZE: Farid KHALILOV (AZE) df. Petro ZHYTOVOZ (HUN), 6-3

72kg
GOLD: Rabil ASKEROV (RUS) df. Oliver PADA (FIN), 6-0

BRONZE Faraim MUSTAFAYEV (AZE) df. Leonard IURASCU (ROU), 5-4
BRONZE: Arionas KOLITSOPOULOS (GRE) df. Ashot KHACHATRYAN (ARM), 4-1

82kg
GOLD: Elmin ALIYEV (AZE) df. Tornike MIKELADZE (GEO), 3-2

BRONZE: Illia VALEUSKI (BLR) df. Szabolcs SZINAY (HUN), 10-1
BRONZE: Gamzat GADZHIEV (RUS) df. Alexander AEMAES (NOR), 9-0

97kg
GOLD: Yehor YAKUSHENKO (UKR) df. Abubakar KHASLAKHANAU (BLR), 3-1

BRONZE: Saipula GADZHIMAGOMEDOV (RUS) df. Robin USPENSKI (EST), 6-4
BRONZE: Darius KIEFER (GER) df. Luka GABISONIA (GEO), 9-3

Saravi, Mirzazadeh shine in Bishkek

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Yakushenko Marches on With Another Gold