Freestyle World Cup

Snyder Clinches USA's First World Cup Title Since 2003

By United World Wrestling Press

IOWA CITY (April 8) - Seven and half months ago, Kyle SNYDER clinched a world title for the United States of America. On Sunday, the Olympic champion and multiple-time world champion clinched a Freestyle World Cup title for USA.

With USA leading 5-3 against Azerbaijan in the gold-medal match, Snyder came through with a dominant 14-3 victory over Roman BAKIROV (AZE) at 97kg. After Snyder built his lead to 4-1 with two takedowns he blew the match wide open with several consecutive tilts. He led 12-3 at the break and put the match away early in the second period with another takedown. 



"It was another opportunity to seal it up for the United States," said Snyder. "I would always pick myself to go out there and wrestle when it comes down to a team win. We have a lot of good guys, but I feel real confident in my ability to wrestle under those kinds of circumstances."

It is USA's 14th World Cup title and first since 2003. 

"This is a great team and they performed really well this weekend," USA freestyle coach Bill Zadick said. "It was really exciting to win a heated finals match against a very good team from Azerbaijan."


USA won two of the first three matches, highlighted by 2016 world champion Logan STIEBER (USA) knocking off three-time world champion Haji ALIYEV (AZE) 6-3 at 65kg.  Stieber led 2-1 at the break after a first-period takedown. He added to his lead early in the second period with another takedown. Aliyev responded with a takedown of his own to make the score 4-3. Stieber then closed out the victory with a takedown in the final 10 seconds to win by three.

At 70kg, Joshgun AZIMOV picked up a key win for Azerbaijan, edging multiple-time world bronze medalist James GREEN (USA) 4-4 on criteria at 70kg. 

But Jordan BURROUGHS, a 2012 Olympic champion and four-time world champion, would help ignite a string of three consecutive wins for the Americans. Burroughs, who is now 27-0 in World Cup competition, earned a second-period fall over U23 European champion Gadzhimurad OMAROV (AZE) at 74kg. 

Kyle DAKE followed up Burroughs' victory with a 5-3 win over Olympic bronze medalist Jabrayil HASANOV to put USA up 4-2 after six matches. 

American David TAYLOR gave the United States its fifth victory by beating world fifth-place finisher Aleksandr GOSTIYEV 12-2 at 86kg. Taylor built a 6-2 lead after the opening period, and then added two more takedowns and a late exposure to get the technical fall.


World bronze medalist Aslanbek ALBOROV kept Azerbaijan's hopes alive by edging another world bronze medalist, J'den Cox, 4-4 on criteria. 

After Snyder clinched the title for the United States at 97kg, Azerbaijan won the final match as Jamaladdin MAGOMEDOV used a late takedown to defeat returning world bronze medalist Nick GWIAZDOWSKI 4-3 at 125kg.


Japan captured the bronze medal by defeating Cuba 6-4. Japan won five of the first six matches, before Cuba had late surge, winning three consecutive matches from 86kg to 97kg. Japan led by one going into the final match before Taiki YAMAMOTO topped Yudenny ALPAJON ESTEVEZ 6-5 in a back-and-forth match at 125kg to give Japan the victory. 

Georgia came in fifth place with a 6-4 victory over Mongolia. After Mongolia won the first two matches, Georgia reeled off four consecutive wins to go up 4-2. Mongolia picked up a win at 86kg, but wins by Dato MARSAGISHVILI (92kg) and Givi MATCHARASHVILI (97kg) sealed the victory for Georgia. 

Kazakhstan finished in seventh place by shutting out India 10-0. 

1st place: United States 6, Azerbaijan 4
57kg: Giorgi Edisherashvili (Azerbaijan) dec. Thomas Gilman (USA), 8-7
61kg: Kendric Maple (USA) dec. Afghan Khashalov (Azerbaijan), 6-2
65kg: Logan Stieber (USA) dec. Haji Aliyev (Azerbaijan), 6-3
70kg: Joshgun Azimov (Azerbaijan) dec. James Green (USA), 4-4
74kg: Jordan Burroughs (USA) pin Gasjimurad Omarov (Azerbaijan), 3:15
79kg: Kyle Dake (USA) dec. Jabrayil Hasanov (Azerbaijan), 5-3
86kg: David Taylor (USA) tech. fall Aleksander Gostiev (Azerbaijan), 12-2
92kg: Aslanbek Alborov (Azerbaijan) dec. J’den Cox (USA), 4-4
97kg: Kyle Snyder (USA) tech fall Roman Bakirov (Azerbaijan), 14-3
125kg: Jamaladdin Magomedov (Azerbaijan) dec. Nick Gwiazdowski (USA) 4-3

3rd place: Japan 6, Cuba 4
57kg: Yuki Takahashi (Japan) dec. Reineri Andreeu Ortega (Cuba), 7-5
61kg: Kazuya Koyanagi (Japan) dec. Yowlys Bonne Rodriquez (Cuba), 9-6
65kg: Daichi Takatani (Japan) dec. Alejandro Enrique Valdes Tobier (Cuba), 10-8
70kg:  Franklin Maren Castillo (Cuba) dec. Keisuke Otoguro (Japan), 8-4
74kg: Yuhi Fujinami (Japan) tech. fall Livan Lopez Azcuy (Cuba), 16-5. 
79kg: Sohsuke Takatani (Japan) tech. fall Yoan Zulueta Morales (Cuba), 10-0
86kg: Yurieski Torreblanca Queralta (Cuba) dec. Shota Shirai (Japan), 4-1
92kg: Lazaro Hernandez Luis (Cuba) dec. Takashi Ishiguro (Japan), 4-4
97kg: Reineris Salas Perez (Cuba) tech. fall Taira Sonoda (Japan), 12-0
125kg: Taiki Yamamoto (Japan) dec. Yudenny Alapajon Estevez (Cuba), 6-5

5th place: Georgia 6, Mongolia 4
57kg: Bekhbayar Erdenebat (Mongolia) dec. Teimuraz Vanishvili (Georgia), 4-0
61kg: Tuvshintulga Tumenbileg (Mongolia) tech. fall Lasha Lomtadze (Georgia), 11-0
65kg: Magomed Saidovi (Georgia) by forfeit
70kg:  Levan Kelekhsashvili (Georgia) dec. Ganbayar Sanjaa (Mongolia), 2-1
79kg: Tarzan Maisuradze (Georgia) dec. Mandakhnaran Ganzorig (Mongolia), 7-1
79kg: Tariel Gaphrindashvili (Georgia) dec. Gantulga Iderkhuu (Mongolia), 22-17
86kg:  Uitumen Orgodol (Mongolia) dec. David Khutsishvili (Georgia), 12-5
92kg:  Dato Marsagishvili (Georgia) inj. dft. over Turtogtokh Luvsandorj (Mongolia), 0:45
97kg: Givi Matcharashvili (Georgia) tech. fall Batzul Ulziisaikhan (Mongolia), 10-0
125kg: Zolboo Natsagsuren (Mongolia) dec. Zviadi Metreveli (Georgia), 6-0

7th place: Kazakhstan 10, India 0
57kg: Mukhambed Kuatbek (Kazakhstan) by forfeit
61kg: Rassul Kaliyev (Kazakhstan) dec. Sandeep Tomar (India), 10-6
65kg: Sayatbek Okassov (Kazakhstan) tech. fall Sharvan (India), 10-0
70kg:  Meirzhan Ashirov (Kazakhstan) dec. Arun Kumar (India), 6-0
74kg: Daniyar Kaisanov (Kazakhstan) dec. Vinod Kumar Omprakash (India), 13-7 
79kg: Saken Aitzhanov (Kazakhstan) pin Sachin Giri (India), 1:31
86kg:  Elkhan Assadov (Kazakhstan) dec. Pawan Kumar (India), 3-0
92kg: Iliskhan Chilayev (Kazakhstan) dec. Deepak Punia (India), 10-3
97kg: Mamed Ibragimov (Kazakhstan) tech. fall Viky (India), 10-0
125kg: Daulet Shabanbay(Kazakhstan) tech. fall Pushpender Singh (India), 10-0
 

#development

Kuwait Wrestling Federation developing wrestling through education

By United World Wrestling Press

KUWAIT CITY, Kuwait (May 26) – The Kuwait Wrestling Federation hosted its first-ever education courses for coaches and referees. These courses were conducted in conjunction with UWW, Olympic Solidarity, Kuwait NOC and the Kuwait Wrestling Federation from May 21-26 in Kuwait City, Kuwait. Mr. Mohammed ADELFATTAH (USA/EGY) led the Coaching Course, while contrast, Mr. Kamel BMOUAZIZ (TUN), Vice-President of the UWW Referee Commission and President of the Arab Wrestling Federation, led the Referee Course.

The technical course for coaches was conducted May 21-25. During the course, 18 participants attended and participated in this Level 1 Course (Introduction to Coaching and Safety). The following topics were covered throughout the course: discovery games, introducing a new technique, coaching skills, giving feedback, risk management, age and developmental stage characteristics. During the course, coaches actively practiced and developed their skills through practical evaluations. Overall, the coaches gained important knowledge and skills to help them improve in their role as a coach. "Wrestling is a new sport in Kuwait. I saw a good group of past wrestlers join the course who could be good coaches in the future for the Kuwait Wrestling Federation," said Mr. Abdelfattah.

KUWAIT
Participants of the education courses for coaches and referees gather for a photo. (Photo: United World Wrestling)

The Introduction to Refereeing Course was conducted from May 23-25. The course had 16 participants (14 men and two women). The participants learned the foundations of what it takes to be a great referee. The areas covered during the course included: the safety of the athletes, evaluation of holds, referee mechanics, positioning, and controlling the bout. The participants were active during the course and could practice their skills through practical assessment. "During the theoretical lessons, the participants actively asked questions and wanted to learn. The enthusiasm and atmosphere in the course were excellent. They were constantly requesting to learn as much as possible," said Mr. Bouaziz.

After the courses, the Kuwait Wrestling Federation organized a competition on May 26, allowing the coaches and referees to practice the new skills they learned.

"On my own behalf and behalf of all my colleagues of the Kuwait NOC Executive Board, I would like to express my gratitude for hosting the Wrestling Technical Courses for referees and coaches in collaboration with Olympic solidarity, which was at the Kuwait Olympic Committee headquarters from May 21-26," said Mr. Mohamed Amir SAADI, Technical Director, Kuwait Olympic Committee. "This valuable course has been conducted by UWW experts, who do a great job."