#BudaWrestle2018

Sidakov Stuns Burroughs and Chamizo; Deng Notches One for China

By Eric Olanowski

BUDAPEST, Hungry (October 20) – On a day that saw three Olympic champions stumble it was youngsters from Russia and Georgia who proved to be the stabilizing antidote to chaos on the first day of wrestling at the 2018 Wrestling World Championships at the Papps Laszlo SportArena in Budapest.

Leading the way for Russia were wunderkinds Gadzhimurad RASHIDOV (57kg) and Zaurbek SIDAKOV (74), both only 22 years old. While Rashidov was dominant throughout the day, Sidakov had arguably the toughest road to the finals, needing to defeat four-time world champion and Olympic champion Jordan BURROUGHS in the quarterfinals and then defeated two-time world champion Frank CHAMIZO (ITA) in the semifinals.

The Georgian effort was spearheaded by defending world champion Geno PATRIASHVILI (125kg) who battled through back-to-back tense matches with Anzor KHIZRIEV (RUS) and Parviz HADI (IRI) to earn his second straight trip to the world finals. His finals compatriot, Avtandil KENTCHADZE (GEO), 22, breezed through the semifinals, earning a chest lock and fall in the second period against 2018 European Champion Soner DEMIRTAS (TUR).

DENG Zhiwei made history at 125kg, becoming the first freestyle wrestler from China to make the world finals. 

“I’m always having dreams about wrestling, and I’ve dedicated my life to the sport for the past 16 years…Now I get to bring honor to my country,” said Deng. 

Russia would have placed a third in tomorrow night’s finals were it not for an unlikely series of comebacks by David TAYLOR (USA). The fast-paced, rubber-kneed American had a career day, starting with an 11-6 decision over 2016 Olympic Champion Hassan YAZDANICHARATI (IRI). Taylor trailed 6-2 at the end of the first period before rattling off nine unanswered points to earn the win. 

Taylor faced Dauren KURUGLIEV (RUS) the semifinals, where early in the match he took a swinging heel to the lower jaw, unbalancing him and briefly stopping the match. Rattled, but undeterred, Taylor fought on, but trailed 5-1 heading into the second period. But as he did against Yazdanicharati, Taylor found another level and immediately began attacking, eventually securing three takedowns and a pushout for the 7-5 victory. 

After the match, Taylor said, “I’d trade a kick in the face for a world championship any day.”  He then dedicated his victory to a training partner and teammate who was severely injured last month during a training session in the United States.

“Perry Strong. Strong like Rich Perry. He’s a fighter.” said Taylor. 

Yowlys BONNE RODRIGUEZ (CUB) throws Joseph COLON (USA) in the 61kg world semifinals. (Photo by Max Rose-Fyne) 

When fan-favorite and two-time world bronze medalist BONNE-RODRIGUEZ (CUB) made his international debut at the 2005 Pan-American Championships, Gadzhimurad RASHIDOV (RUS) was only 9 years old. 

They’ll meet tomorrow night for the 61kg gold medal.

Sunday night’s finals will be the first time that the 34 year old Cuban has made a gold-medal bout, while Rashidov is looking to rebound from his silver medal performance from last year's World Championships.  

Tomorrow’s wrestling action starts at 10:30 am with championship action in 57kg, 65kg, 79, g and 92kg along with repechage from today’s weight categories. 

Finals will start at 7 pm local.

RESULTS 

61kg 
GOLD - Gadzhimurad RASHIDOV (RUS) vs. Yowlys BONNE RODRIGUEZ (CUB)

SEMIFINAL - Gadzhimurad RASHIDOV (RUS) df. Beka LOMTADZE (GEO), 10 - 0
SEMIFINAL - Yowlys BONNE RODRIGUEZ (CUB) df. Joseph Daniel COLON (USA), 9-4

74kg 
GOLD - Zaurbek SIDAKOV (RUS) vs. Avtandil KENTCHADZE (GEO)

SEMIFINAL - Avtandil KENTCHADZE (GEO) df. Soner DEMIRTAS (TUR), 8 - 1
SEMIFINAL - Zaurbek SIDAKOV (RUS) df. Frank CHAMIZO MARQUEZ (ITA), 3-2 

86kg
GOLD - David Morris TAYLOR III (USA) vs. Fatih ERDIN (TUR)

SEMIFINAL - David Morris TAYLOR III (USA) df. Dauren KURUGLIEV (RUS), 7 - 5
SEMIFINAL - Fatih ERDIN (TUR) df. Taimuraz FRIEV NASKIDAEVA (ESP)

125kg 
GOLD - Geno PETRIASHVILI (GEO) vs. Zhiwei DENG (CHN)

SEMIFINAL - Geno PETRIASHVILI (GEO) df. Parviz Khodavirdi HADIBASMANJ (IRI), 13 - 6
SEMIFINAL - Zhiwei DENG (CHN) df. Sumit SUMIT (IND)

#WrestleAmman

U17 Worlds: Iran, Ukraine, Kazakhstan earn two spots in finals

By Vinay Siwach

AMMAN, Jordan (August 19) -- Three different countries managed to send two wrestlers to the finals on the first day of the U17 World Championships in Amman, Jordan. The four other finalists were from Uzbekistan, the United States, Hungary and an Individual Neutral Athlete.

Iran, Ukraine and Kazakhstan were the only countries with multiple finalists on day one of the tournament, the first World Championships of 2024.

Iran was led by Armin SHAMSIPOUR (IRI) at 48kg as he rolled into finals without conceding a single point in three bouts. With two technical superiorities before the semifinals, Shamsipour added another when he defeated Yedige TOLEUTAYEV (KAZ) 10-0.

U17 Asian champion Khusniddin ABDUKARIMOV (UZB) will look to stop the Iranian in the final as he also has three technical superiority wins. He beat Laszlo SZUROMI (HUN), 8-0, in the semifinal to set up a final between two of the best wrestlers on day one.

The second Iran wrestler to reach the final was Amir Mahdi SAEIDI (IRI) at 65kg. While his semifinal 1-1 win over Narek GRIGORIAN (ARM) was actionless, Saeidi defeated Fayozbek ESHMIRZAEV (UZB) 9-1 in the quarterfinals. He thus avenged his loss from the U17 Asian Championships final at the same venue.

Vladyslav POKOTYLO (UKR)Vladyslav POKOTYLO (UKR) defeated Emil ABDULLAYEV (AZE) in the 65kg semifinal. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kostandin Andonov)

He will take on U17 European champion Vladyslav POKOTYLO (UKR) for the gold medal. Pokotylo was at his best in the quarterfinals and semifinals, beating Dzhabrail UMKHADZHIEV (AIN) 3-1 and Emil ABDULLAYEV (AZE), 4-1, respectively.

For Ukraine, Ivan YANKOVSKYI (UKR) will also look to win the gold medal after he reached the 110kg final. The U17 European champion posted three technical superiority wins with the third coming against Aliasghar DADBAKHSH (IRI) in the semifinals.

Zoltan CZAKO (HUN), a surprise finalist, will try to stop Yankovskyi from winning the gold medal on Tuesday. In the semifinals, Czako was up against last year's silver medalist RONAK (IND) who tried an arm-spin but Czako blocked it and held Ronak on the mat to secure a fall in 17 seconds.

Alpamys BOLATULY (KAZ)Alpamys BOLATULY (KAZ) reached the 55kg final in Amman. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Amirreza Aliasgari)

Kazakhstan managed two finalists in Alpamys BOLATULY (KAZ) at 55kg and Yerkebulan ANAPIYA (KAZ) at 80kg. This is the first time since 2019 U17 World Championships that Kazakhstan has a finalist in Greco-Roman.

Bolatuly, who finished 12th last year, put on a show in the semifinal against Yurik MKHITARYAN (ARM), winning the bout 13-8. His earlier wins included a 10-1 win over Amirali HEYDARI (IRI) in the quarterfinals and an 8-0 win over Yuki HIROHASHI (JPN) in the 1/8 finals.

For the gold, Bolatuly will face Jayden RANEY (USA) who pulled a classic in the semifinal. Down 6-0 against Petro ZHYTOVOZ (HUN), Raney stopped the attack from Zhytovoz and pinned him just before the break. That was Raney's fourth win of the day.

Raney will look to become the fourth Greco-Roman wrestler from the United States to win gold since the tournament restarted in 2011. Cohlton SCHULTZ (USA) won in 2017, Joel ADAMS (USA) won the title in 2022 and Jordyn RANEY (USA) won gold last year. 

U17 Asian silver medalist Anapiya was tested in the semifinal by Orkhan HAJIYEV (AZE) but the Kazakh wrestler came out on top 8-6 to enter the final. He will now face returning silver medalist and U17 European champion Mikhail SHKARIN (AIN).

Shkarin handed Emad Reza MOHSEN NEJAD (IRI) a 9-0 thrashing in the semifinal to set up the gold medal bout against Anapiya. Emad is one of the four Mohsen Nejad brothers. Mehdi is a multiple-time Asian medalist and finished fifth at the Paris Olympics while Ahmad won the U20 World Championships gold last year. Yasin is also a Greco-Roman wrestler.

Greco-Roman Semifinal Results

48kg
GOLD: Khusniddin ABDUKARIMOV (UZB) vs. Armin SHAMSIPOUR (IRI)

SF 1: Khusniddin ABDUKARIMOV (UZB) df. Laszlo SZUROMI (HUN), 8-0
SF 2: Armin SHAMSIPOUR (IRI) df. Yedige TOLEUTAYEV (KAZ), 10-0

55kg
GOLD: Jayden RANEY (USA) vs. Alpamys BOLATULY (KAZ)

SF 1: Jayden RANEY (USA) df. Petro ZHYTOVOZ (HUN), via fall (3-6)
SF 2: Alpamys BOLATULY (KAZ) df. Yurik MKHITARYAN (ARM), 13-8

65kg
GOLD: Amir Mahdi SAEIDI (IRI) vs. Vladyslav POKOTYLO (UKR)

SF 1: Amir Mahdi SAEIDI (IRI) df. Narek GRIGORIAN (ARM), 1-1 
SF 2: Vladyslav POKOTYLO (UKR) df. Emil ABDULLAYEV (AZE), 4-1

80kg
GOLD: Yerkebulan ANAPIYA (KAZ) vs. Mikhail SHKARIN (AIN)

SF 1: Yerkebulan ANAPIYA (KAZ) df. Orkhan HAJIYEV (AZE), 8-6
SF 2: Mikhail SHKARIN (AIN) df. Emad Reza MOHSENNEJAD (IRI), 9-0

110kg
GOLD: Zoltan CZAKO (HUN) vs. Ivan YANKOVSKYI (UKR)

SF 1: Zoltan CZAKO (HUN) df. RONAK (IND), via fall
SF 2: Ivan YANKOVSKYI (UKR) df. Aliasghar DADBAKHSH (IRI), 8-0