#WrestleAlmaty

Shermakhanbet beats Olympic champ Geraei; India wins 3 WW golds

Friday, June 3, 2022 - 15:30 By Vinay Siwach

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ALMATY, Kazakhstan (June 3) -- Mohammadreza GERAEI (IRI) may be unbeatable for many. But not for Meiirzhan SHERMAKHANBET (KAZ), who has made a habit of beating the Olympic champion.

Shermakhanbet maintained his 100 percent record over Geraei by handing him his fourth loss in four meetings with the latest coming Friday in front of his home crowd at the Bolat Turlykhanov Cup in Almaty.

"It was the fourth time I wrestled against Geraei," Shermakhanbet said. "We know each other very well. Even though he is an Olympic champion, it was the 4th time I've defeated him."

Geraei, however, walked away with the 72kg gold after Shermakhanbet pulled out of the final to not aggravate a shoulder injury he suffered in the first round of the morning session.

Seven Greco-Roman gold medals were decided Thursday with Iran and Turkey winning three each while the remaining one going to Uzbekistan. Iran, Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan won one each on the second day of the competition.

Iran won the team title with 185 points while Kazakhstan came second with 165 points. Uzbekistan managed to finish third with 108 points while Turkey was fourth with 100 points.

But the biggest talking point of the tournament will be Geraei's epic surrender against the '22 Asian champion.

Meiirzhan SHERMAKHANBET (KAZ)Meiirzhan SHERMAKHANBET (KAZ) claimed his fourth win over Mohammadreza GERAEI. (Photo: UWW / Kadir Caliskan)

Incidentally, the first three meetings between Sherkhanbet and Geraei were all in 2018. He first defeated Geraei via fall at the prestigious Takhti Cup and six months later he won 6-3 in the final at the Hungarian Grand Prix. The third clash was at the World Championships in Budapest where Shermakhanbet won a bronze medal. On his way, he defeated Geraei 9-0 in the quarterfinal.

In Almaty, the two met in the second round of the 72kg weight class and after Geraei was called passive in the first period, Shermakhanbet exposed him thrice from par terre to lead 7-0. But Geraei was unfazed.

He had been in such a situation at the Olympics and World Championships but managed to recover and win, earning him the nickname 'The Iceman'.

But Friday was different as Shermakhanbet kept the pressure on Geraei and held on to his defense as well. He was called passive in the second period which gave Geraei a glimmer of hope but he could only get two points from par terre.

The two had moved up to 72kg from their preferred 67kg but are expected to return to the weight class and hopefully clash again.

"I am the team leader at 67kg, although this time I decided to compete at 72kg in order not to cut weight," Shermakhanbet said. "I was full of energy, so the tournament went well for me. In September I am planning to compete at the World championships at 67kg, I am going there for a gold medal only. I want to raise the Kazakhstan flag."

Reflecting on his loss, Geraei said that being away from competition for eight months may have made him rusty but is looking forward to a meeting in Belgrade, Serbia.

"I competed with little training and preparations," Geraei said. "I had not wrestled for 8 months after Norway. I was able to learn more about my weaknesses and errors and am going to work on them to improve them.

"I hope he can come to World Championships in Serbia and be able to win against all his competitors so we can wrestle against each other in the finale or the group selections."

Akzhol MAKHMUDOV (KGZ)Akzhol MAKHMUDOV (KGZ) acknowledges the crowd after winning the 82kg gold. (Photo: UWW / Kadir Caliskan)

Olympic silver medalist Akzhol MAKHMUDOV (KGZ) followed his 82kg title at Asian Championships with a gold medal at the Ranking Series in Almaty which included wins over World silver medalist Burhan AKBUDAK (TUR) and bronze medalist Pejman POSHTAM (IRI).

Makhmudov clashed with Akbudak in the quarterfinals and led 4-3 at the break despite giving up a passivity. He added another point in the second period to extend his lead to 5-3. Akbudak scored a stepout with two seconds remaining and got another point as Makhmudov was warned for fleeing. But Makhmudov held on for a 5-5 criteria win.

In the final, he made it look easy against Poshtam. He used two head-pinches for four points each to win 9-0.

"Today I've wrestled well, but not perfect," Makhmudov said. "I wasn't in my best shape, because I caught a cold. That's why I was trying to be active right from the beginning of the match. If I had given up some points, I wouldn't have been able to score them back."

Makhmudov's experience of wrestling at the Olympics and other high-level events is reflected in his game plan. He said that he is planning in advance for everyone.

"I am getting ready for every match, analyzing the wrestling of each opponent," he said. "I was getting ready for the final match the same way, so everything was planned in advance, you can now call me a 'professor.'"

The third Greco-Roman gold went to Kaharman KISSYMETOV (KAZ) as he defeated Demeu ZHADRAYEV (KAZ), 5-4 in an all-Kazakhstan final. The former rode on his four-point throw in the first round to win the gold. Zhadrayev got a gut wrench from par terre but it was not enough to overtake Kissymetov's five points.

Zhadrayev had defeated European silver medalist Yunus BASAR (TUR) 2-1 in the quarterfinals while Kissymetov defeated Asian champion Mohammad Reza MOKHTARI (IRI) 5-3 in the semifinal.

Sakshi MALIK (IND)Sakshi MALIK (IND) won the 62kg gold medal in Almaty. (Photo: UWW / Kadir Caliskan)

3 golds for India

India came out all guns blazing as it collected three out of the four gold medals on offer in women's wrestling Friday. Rio Olympic bronze medalist Sakshi MALIK (IND), Mansi AHLAWAT (IND) and two-time Asian champion Divya KAKRAN (IND) won the 62kg, 57kg and 68kg gold medals.

Malik, who reclaimed the starting spot at 62kg on the Indian team after beating Tokyo Olympian Sonam MALIK (IND) for the first time, defeated Irina KUZNETSOVA (KAZ) twice in dominating fashion to win the gold medal.

The two met in the first round and Malik used the classic turks to finish the bout 10-0. She was supposed to meet Tserenchimed SUKHEE (MGL) in the semifinal but the Mongolian had failed to register at the weigh-ins. Sukhee had defeated Malik at the first Ranking Series event in Istanbul.

After both qualified for the finals, it seemed that Kuznetsova will be able to give a stronger fight as she pulled off a four-pointer to lead 4-3. But Malik kept her calm and secured the fall in the second period.

Kakran pinned Delgermaa ENKHSAIKHAN (MGL) and Albina KAIRGELDINOVA (KAZ) in the first two rounds using her signature cradle move to secure 10 classification points.

In the third round, she met Bolortungalag ZORIGT (MGL) who had one fall and a loss in which she got only one classification point to be at six. To win the gold, she had to pin Kakran but could manage only a 14-10 win which gave Kakran the gold.

The bronze medal went to Enkhsaikhan who defeated Kairgeldinova 11-0 in the third round.

For Ahlawat, it was a confidence-boosting win as she continues to remain in the shadow of world silver medalist Anshu MALIK (IND) and two-time Asian champion Sarita MOR (IND) at 57kg.

In a strong performance in Almaty, Ahlawat defeated Emma TISSINA (KAZ) twice to claim the gold medal. The two met in the morning session in Round 3 which the Indian won 6-0. She then defeated another Kazakhstan wrestler Laura ALMAGANBETOVA (KAZ) via fall in the semifinal.

Tissina put up a better challenge in the final as she stopped Ahlawat from her attacks. But she gave up a point for passivity and two more stepouts to lose 3-0.

Aiperi MEDET KYZY (KGZ)Aiperi MEDET KYZY (KGZ) won the 76kg gold after beating Samar HAMZA (EGY) 17-6. (Photo: UWW / Bayrem Ben Mrad)

In a marquee match at 76kg, World bronze medalists Aiperi MEDET KYZY (KGZ) and Samar HAMZA (EGY) put on a show in a 23-point gold medal bout. Medet Kyzy won the gold 17-6.

The Istanbul Ranking Series winner Medet Kyzy had built a 4-0 lead with two takedowns but Hamza surprised her with a four-pointer to lead 4-4 at the break. Hamza tried defending the criteria lead but Medet Kyzy put her in danger with a two-on-one move. Hamza challenged the four-point call and lost as she had clearly landed on her shoulder.

From 9-4, the Asian champion quickly made it 13-6 with a whizzer but gave up two points in the same sequence. She then controlled the bout against a tiring Hamza scoring a takedown and a gut wrench to finish the bout.

GR Results

72kg
GOLD: Mohammadreza GERAEI (IRI) df. Meiirzhan SHERMAKHANBET (KAZ), via inj. def.

BRONZE: Mahmud BAKHSHILLOEV (UZB) df. Jamol JUMABAEV (UZB), 1-1

77kg
GOLD: Kaharman KISSYMETOV (KAZ) df. Demeu ZHADRAYEV (KAZ), 5-4

BRONZE: Mohammad Reza MOKHTARI (IRI) df. Yunus BASAR (TUR), 3-1
BRONZE: Renat ILIAZ UULU (KGZ) df. Khvicha ANANIDZE (GEO), 9-0

82kg
GOLD: Akzhol MAKHMUDOV (KGZ) df. Pejman POSHTAM (IRI), 9-0

BRONZE: Kalidin ASYKEEV (KGZ) df. Shamil BATYROV (KAZ), 3-1
BRONZE: Burhan AKBUDAK (TUR) df. Tornike DZAMASHVILI (GEO), 8-0

WW Results

57kg
GOLD: MANSI (IND) df. Emma TISSINA (KAZ), 3-0 

BRONZE: Laylokhon SOBIROVA (UZB) df. Laura ALMAGANBETOVA (KAZ), 13-5

62kg
GOLD: Sakshi MALIK (IND) df. Irina KUZNETSOVA (KAZ), via fall

BRONZE: Gantuya ENKHBAT (MGL) df. Tserenchimed SUKHEE (MGL), via forfeit

68kg
GOLD: Divya KAKRAN (IND)
SILVER: Bolortungalag ZORIGT (MGL)
BRONZE: Delgermaa ENKHSAIKHAN (MGL)

76kg
GOLD: Aiperi MEDET KYZY (KGZ) df. Samar HAMZA (EGY), 17-6  

BRONZE: Pooja SIHAG (IND) df. Zagardulam NAIGALSUREN (MGL), via forfeit

#WrestleAmman

U17 Worlds: Dashdamirov repeats; Iran wins Greco team title

Wednesday, August 21, 2024 - 21:26 By Vinay Siwach

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AMMAN, Jordan (August 21) -- Azerbaijan may have found its new wonderkid. Turan DASHDAMIROV (AZE) is gradually turning out to be the wrestler to beat in age-group competitions. A two-time U17 European champion, Dashdamirov is now a two-time U17 world champion as he won the gold medal at 51kg in Amman on Wednesday.

While his controversial win at the U17 World Championships last year was still in his mind, Dashdamirov used it as an inspiration and collected the gold medal for this team with no asterisk.

In the 51kg final against Kutman KALBAEV (KGZ), the 16-year-old fell behind 3-1 after Kalbaev got a turn from par terre in the first period. But Dashdamirov did not panic and got a takedown at the start of the second period to lead 3-3 on criteria. However, he continued his gut wrench and claimed an outright 5-3 lead.

"The toughest match for me was the final," Dashdamirov said. "I was behind 3-1 in the first period, but then I put myself together, made it to 3-3 and then won the match. That’s the most important [thing]."

He was one of the two champions for Azerbaijan on day three of the U17 World Championships but it was Iran that once again clinched the team title with 140 points as Greco-Roman came to an end at the tournament. Uzbekistan, which won its first team title in Greco-Roman at the U17 level at the Asian Championships, finished second with 113 points, eight points ahead of Azerbaijan which was third.

Turan DASHDAMIROV (AZE)Turan DASHDAMIROV (AZE), blue, tries to block a move from Kutman KALBAEV (KGZ) during their 51kg final at the U17 World Championships in Amman. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Amirreza Aliasgari)

Dashdamirov's win was another feather in his cap as he extended his unbeaten run in his international career to 20; his last loss coming to Rustem ABATSIEV (AIN) back in 2021 in the final of the U15 European Championships. Abatsiev was his opponent in the U17 Worlds final last year.

"I came here as a two-time U17 European champion and a U17 World champion," he said. "I could feel that the opponents were getting ready to wrestle with me. However, I didn’t change any tactics. I stuck to the plan."

A native of Bina, a locality in which the Heydar Aliyev airport in located, in Khazar province in Azerbaijan, the 16-year-old's run in Amman included a 5-1 win over Sainath PARDHI (IND), a 57-second 9-0 win over Domenic MUNARETTO (USA) and a 4-1 win over Yerassyl MUSSAN (KAZ) in the semifinals. He now hopes to replicate winning golds at the next level.

"I have both European and World Championships," he said. "Now I am planning to achieve the same result at the U20 level. 

"In Azerbaijan, we have many good wrestlers. Eldaniz AZIZLI (AZE), Sanan SULEYMANOV (AZE), Hasrat JAFAROV (AZE). I try to take them as examples."

Aykhan JAVADOV (AZE)Aykhan JAVADOV (AZE) celebrates after winning gold medal in 60kg at the U17 World Championships. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Amirreza Aliasgari)

The second for Azerbaijan was won by Aykhan JAVADOV (AZE) who survived a few nasty attacks from Vakhtang LOLUA (GEO) in the 60kg final. Javadov, the U17 European champion, won 4-1.

Lolua was penalized for blocking Javadov by using hands on the face which gave Javadov a 3-1 lead at the break. In the second period, Lolua tried getting a stepout but Javadov survived, sometimes by a whisker. It was at one such attempt when Lolua thought he got a stepout but Javadov remained inside and got a stepout of his own against Lolua to lead 4-0.

Aykhan JAVADOV (AZE)Aykhan JAVADOV (AZE) survives a stepout against Vakhtang LOLUA (GEO) during their 60kg final at the U17 World Championships in Amman. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kostadin Andonov)

Javadov was cautioned for not engaging in the final few seconds but conceding one point did not stop him from winning the gold medal. In the semifinals, he had beaten returning champion Jordyn RANEY (USA) 2-1.

Raney returned with a bronze medal as he defeated Vadym MATROS (UKR) 6-1, becoming the first wrestler from the United States to win two Greco-Roman medals at the U17 World Championships since the restart of the tournament in 2011.

Danial IZADI (IRI)Danial IZADI (IRI) scores against Ole STERNING (GER) using an arm throw during their 92kg final at the U17 World Championships in Amman. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kostadin Andonov)

Iran got its third champion of the tournament as Danial IZADI (IRI) defeated Ole STERNING (GER), 4-0, to win the gold medal at 92kg. After scoring the takedown using an arm throw, Izadi turned Sterning to lead 4-0 and sat on it for the remaining three minutes of the bout.

In his five bouts in Amman, Izadi scored 30 points while conceding only one point with some big throws being the highlight of his campaign.

"I’ve been working hard for years and I wished to become the world champion," Izadi said. "Today I was able to become the world champion. I’m very happy and grateful."

Izadi, a native Gushlu village in the historic province Ardabil in northwest Iran and on the Azerbaijan border, will be moving to the U20 level next year and hopes to continue his success.

"Next year, I’ll be in U20s and I hope I’ll be a champion in U20 like I did here," he said.

Aslanbek KOSTOEV (AIN)Aslanbek KOSTOEV (AIN) celebrates after beating Marat ATSHEMYAN (ARM) in the 45kg final at the U17 World Championships in Amman. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kostandin Andonov)

At 45kg, Aslanbek KOSTOEV (AIN) avenged his U17 European finals loss to Marat ATSHEMYAN (ARM), pinning the Armenian in the final. Atshemyan had beaten Kostoev 10-0 in the European final last month.

Atshemyan was leading the final 3-2 with less than 30 seconds remaining but he tried to throw Kostoev on the edge but fell on his back with Kostoev in control, giving Kostoev a 4-3 lead. Desperate, the Armenian tried the same move and failed again. Kostoev held him on the mat to secure the fall.

Kiryl VALEUSKI (AIN) posted a dominant 7-1 win over Vladislav BYRLIA (AIN), in the 71kg final to win the gold medal. This win was more controlled than his 3-3 win at the U17 European Championships, a tournament in which Valeuski won gold as well.

Valeuski got a takedown when he tried to throw Byrlia using a headlock. No turns from par terre meant Valeuski led 3-1 when Byrlia tried a 'flying squirrel' but Valeuski smashed him on the mat to get four more points.

Mansi LATHER (IND)Mansi LATHER (IND) scores on Piper FOWLER (USA) during their 72kg quarterfinal at the U17 World Championships in Amman (Photo: 

India Perfect

India maintained a 100 percent record on the first day of women's wrestling in Amman. All four wrestlers in action reached the gold-medal bouts in their respective weight classes, the only country to achieve such a result. Aditi KUMARI (IND) began the winning run at 43kg followed by NEHA (IND) at 57kg, PULKIT (IND) at 65kg and Mansi LATHER (IND) at 73kg.

Kumari defeated Aleksandra BEREZOVSKAIA (AIN), 8-2, in the semifinals and will take on Maria GKIKA (GRE) who became the first Greek wrestler in 22 years to reach a World Championships final in women's wrestling. She defeated Gabriela PALACIOS (MEX), 6-1 in the semifinals.

Two-time Asian U17 champion and returning bronze medalist Neha saw off Anna STRATAN (KAZ), 8-4 in the semifinals. She will face So TSUTSUI (JPN) who defeated Palina BRAHINETS (AIN), 3-0, all non-action points, in the final.

PULKIT (IND) claimed a 3-0 win against Maram ALY (EGY) to set up a final against Daria FROLOVA (AIN) who took a 4-0 lead before Uldana TILEUKHAN (KAZ) rallied to make it 4-4 but did not realize that it was Frolova who held criteria. Frolova moved into the final with a 5-4 win.

At 73kg, Asian U17 champion Mansi LATHER (IND) defeated returning champ Piper FOWLER (USA) in the quarterfinals and Khrystyna DEMCHUK (UKR) via fall in the semifinals. She will wrestle Hanna PIRSKAYA (AIN) for the gold after Pirskaya pinned Makia KIMURA (JPN) in the other semifinal.

The only category without an Indian in the final was 49kg. Utaha YUI (JPN) and Na HU (CHN) will wrestle for gold as the former defeated Esra MAMMADLI (AZE), 9-0, while Hu rolled to an 11-0 win over Dounia ZITOUNI (ALG).

India did not send a wrestler in 49kg to the U17 Asian Championships in June. As per rules, a country can only send the same number of wrestlers to the World Championships as the continental championships.

fh

RESULTS

45kg
GOLD: Aslanbek KOSTOEV (AIN) df. Marat ATSHEMYAN (ARM), via fall (6-3)

BRONZE: Bekzhan BEISHEMBAEV (KGZ) df. Damir ABILDA (KAZ), via cautions (10-7)
BRONZE: Umidjon KAROMOV (UZB) df. Ahmad BADRADDINI (IRI), 9-1

51kg
GOLD: Turan DASHDAMIROV (AZE) df. Kutman KALBAEV (KGZ), 5-3

BRONZE: Sainath PARDHI (IND) df. Yerassyl MUSSAN (KAZ), 3-1
BRONZE: Abolfazl KARAMIEGAEI (IRI) df. Sargis HARUTYUNYAN (ARM), 7-1

60kg
GOLD: Aykhan JAVADOV (AZE) df. Vakhtang LOLUA (GEO), 4-1

BRONZE: Jordyn RANEY (USA) df. Vadym MATROS (UKR), 6-1
BRONZE: Farrukh YULDOSHEV (UZB) df. Ilias LAAOUINA (NED), 3-2

71kg
GOLD: Kiryl VALEUSKI (AIN) df. Vladislav BYRLIA (AIN), 7-1

BRONZE: Behruzbek VALIEV (UZB) df. Samvel TERTERYAN (ARM), 5-4
BRONZE: Giorgi ALADASHVILI (GEO) df. Joseph JETER (USA), 9-0 

92kg
GOLD: Danial IZADI (IRI) df. Ole STERNING (GER), 4-0

BRONZE: Vladimer MINADZE (GEO) df. Serkan BAKIR (TUR), 2-2
BRONZE: Fakhrikamol KOMILJONOV (UZB) df. Lyova SHUKHYAN (ARM), via fall (3-3)

Women's Wrestling Semifinals

43kg
GOLD: Maria GKIKA (GRE) vs. Aditi KUMARI (IND)

SF 1: Maria GKIKA (GRE) df. Gabriela PALACIOS (MEX), 6-1
SF 2: Aditi KUMARI (IND) df. Aleksandra BEREZOVSKAIA (AIN), 8-2

49kg
GOLD: Utaha YUI (JPN) vs. Na HU (CHN)

SF 1: Utaha YUI (JPN) df. Esra MAMMADLI (AZE), 9-0
SF 2: Na HU (CHN) df. Dounia ZITOUNI (ALG), 11-0

57kg
GOLD: So TSUTSUI (JPN) vs. NEHA (IND)

SF 1: So TSUTSUI (JPN) df. Palina BRAHINETS (AIN), 3-0
SF 2: NEHA (IND) df. Anna STRATAN (KAZ), 8-4

65kg
GOLD: PULKIT (IND) vs. Daria FROLOVA (AIN)

SF 1: PULKIT (IND) df. Maram ALY (EGY), 3-0
SF 2: Daria FROLOVA (AIN) df. Uldana TILEUKHAN (KAZ), 5-4

73kg
GOLD: Hanna PIRSKAYA (AIN) vs. Mansi LATHER (IND)

SF 1: Mansi LATHER (IND) df. Khrystyna DEMCHUK (UKR), via fall (12-2)
SF 2: Hanna PIRSKAYA (AIN) df. Makia KIMURA (JPN), via fall (5-0)