#BudaWrestle2018

Snyder, Sadulaev Move Closer to Rematch; Mukaida, Kawai Advance

Monday, October 22, 2018 - 13:01 By Andrew Hipps

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BUDAPEST, Hungary (October 22) -- Olympic champions Kyle SNYDER (USA) and Abdulrashid SADULAEV (RUS) moved a step closer to a potential finals rematch with victories in the 97kg quarterfinals of the World Championships on Monday in Budapest, Hungary. 

Snyder, the reigning world and Olympic champion, was pushed early in his first match against Batzul ULZIISAIKHAN (MGL). He was trailing 3-1 at one point, but turned up his offense in the second period and pulled away for a five-point victory. Snyder then dominated his next two opponents, winning by technical fall over both Nathaniel TUAMOHELOA (ASA) and Abraham de Jesus CONYEDO RUANO (ITA) to reach tonight's semifinals. He will face two-time world bronze medalist Pavlo OLIINYK (HUN) tonight. 

Sadulaev, an Olympic champion and two-time world champion, was untested in the opening session, picking up three technical falls and outscoring his opposition 35-3. He defeated 2016 Olympic bronze medalist Magomed IBRAGIMOV (UZB) 10-0 in the quarterfinals. He now faces Elizbar ODIKADZE (GEO), who edged multiple-time world bronze medalist Aslanbek ALBOROV (AZE) 4-3 in the quarterfinals. 

At 70kg, returning world champion Zurabi IAKOBISHVILI (GEO) came from behind late in his last two matches to reach the semifinals. He had a close second-round match as he edged Taimuraz SALKAZANOV (SVK) 2-1. Salkaznov led most of the match until Iakobishvili took the lead with just over a minute remaining and held on for the win. In the quarterfinals, he came from behind late to defeat Ikhtiyor NAVRUZOV (UZB) 5-1. In the semifinals, Iakobishvili will face 2015 world champion Muhtarovitch GAZIMAGOMEDOV (RUS). 

Veteran Adam BATIROV (BRN) reached the 70kg semifinals with a dominant 10-0 technical fall victory over Devid SAFARYAN (ARM). He will meet two-time Olympian Andriy KVYATKOVSKYY (UKR) in the semifinals. 

It was a tough session for Iran as their two age group world medalists lost opening round matches and did not get pulled back into repechage. U-23 world bronze medalist Yones EMAMICHOGHAEI (IRI) was defeated by Taimuraz SALKAZANOV (SVK) on criteria at 70kg, while U-23 world champion Mojtaba GOLEIJ (IRI) lost by technical fall to Aslanbek ALBOROV (AZE).

In women's wrestling, Japan's world champions Mayu MUKAIDA and Risako KAWAI advanced to the semifinals at 55kg and 59kg respectively. 

Mukaida defeated Sofia MATTSSON (SWE) 6-4 in the quarterfinals at 55kg. It was a battle of past world champion as Mukaida won gold in 2016, while Mattsson was a world champion in 2009. Mukaida jumped out to a 6-0 lead, but Mattsson battled back before eventually falling short. She now faces junior world silver medalist Qi ZHANG (CHN). 

Jacarra WINCHESTER (USA) earned a spot in the 55kg semifinals with a 4-2 victory over multiple-time world medalist Tetyana KIT (UKR). Winchester led 4-0 at the break. Kit used an arm throw in the second period to the cut deficit to two points but was unable to score again. Winchester will meet Zalina SIDAKOVA (BLR) in the semifinals. 

Kawai, the reigning world and Olympic champion, was unscored upon in two matches at 59kg. After a 6-0 victory in her first match over 2016 world champion Xingru PEI (CHN), she rolled to a 10-0 technical fall over Katsiaryna HANCHAR YANUSHKEVICH (BLR) in the quarterfinals. Her opponent in the semifinals will be Svetlana LIPATOVA (RUS). 

The bottom side of the bracket at 59kg will pit Shoovdor BAATARJAV (MGL) against Elif Jale YESILIRMAK (TUR).

The semifinals are scheduled to begin at 4:45 p.m. local time. 

Freestyle

70kg
Andriy KVYATKOVSKYY (UKR) vs. Adam BATIROV (BRN)
Muhtarovitch GAZIMAGOMEDOV (RUS) vs. Zurabi IAKOBISHVILI (GEO)

97kg
Pavlo OLIINYK (HUN) vs. Kyle SNYDER (USA)
Elizbar ODIKADZE (GEO) vs. Abdulrashid SADULAEV (RUS)

Women's wrestling

55kg
Jacarra WINCHESTER (USA) vs. Zalina SIDAKOVA (BLR)
Mayu MUKAIDA (JPN) vs. Qi ZHANG (CHN)

59kg
Svetlana LIPATOVA (RUS) vs. Risako KAWAI (JPN)
Shoovdor BAATARJAV (MGL) vs. Elif Jale YESILIRMAK (TUR)

#WrestleZagreb

Valiev outsmarts Sidakov again to reach Worlds final

Sunday, September 14, 2025 - 16:24 By Vinay Siwach

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ZAGREB, Croatia (September 14) -- For five minutes and 50 seconds in both the 74kg semifinals, there was little indication that the results will change. But 10 seconds were enough for Chermen VALIEV (ALB) and Kota TAKAHASHI (JPN) to change the outcome.

Valiev was down 4-2 against Zaurbek SIDAKOV (UWW) but managed to elevate the latter's leg from an attack before tripping him on the edge for a two-point takedown, taking a 4-4 criteria lead with three seconds remaining.

Sidakov tried a desperate attack but gave up another takedown even in that short time as Valiev reached his first-ever World Championships final on debut in Zagreb, Croatia.

Takahashi was down 4-1 against Taimuraz SALKAZANOV (SVK) but the Japanese scored a takedown and turned Salkazanov through a gut-wrench to lead 5-4. He still had 6 seconds to defend and he managed to do it with ease. Slovakia challenged for fleeing from Takahashi but that was lost which added an additional point to make it 6-4.

Valiev and Takahashi, both with clutch wins, will now clash in the 74kg final for the world title on Monday.

Three other weight classes were also in action on Sunday and the United States was the only country to put two wrestlers in the finals -- Levi HAINES (USA) at 79kg and Trent HIDLAY (USA) at 92kg.

Haines, who stunned world champion Akhmed USMANOV (UWW) in the quarterfinals, scored a controlled 4-1 victory over Suldkhuu OLONBAYAR (MGL) in the semifinals. Olonbayar got the first point via passivity of Haines but the U.S. wrestler scored a counter exposure for two points and take a 2-1 lead.

He scored a ankle pick for another two-point takedown and defended his 4-1 lead for the win and reach the final, a surprise in a tough 79kg bracket.

On Monday, he will try to stop Georgios KOUGIOUMTSIDIS (GRE) from becoming Greece's first-ever wrestling world champion in history. The European champion from Greece showed some of the most high-paced wrestling in the semifinal against world silver medalist Mohammad NOKHODI (IRI) to win 8-3.

Nokhodi, was often stood squared-up, had no answered to Kougioumtsidis' constant attacks as the Greece wrestlers led 6-3 at the break. He scored a single-leg takedown in the second period and won 8-3.

Hidlay, who has switched levels in his career this year, reached the final at 92kg after destroying world silver medalist Osman NURMAGOMEDOV (AZE), 15-4, in the semifinals.

Nurmagomedov was in the match when the score was 5-4 with 2:23 left but Hidlay switch gears since, scoring a go-behind, a feet-to-back four-pointer and a takedown to finish with a technical superiority win.

He will face Amanula GADZHIMAGOMEDOV (UWW) for the gold medal after Gadzhimagomedov managed to hold off Amirhossein FIROUZPOUR (IRI) for an 11-6. Firouzpour, who had multiple age-group world titles, kept shooting for Gadzhimagomedov's legs but the UWW wrestler kept countering those attack with lift exposures.

Gadzhimagomedov then sealed the win with stepout, handing him a 9-6 lead and a takedown finishing the match 11-6.

Harutyunyan pinned after Lee heroics

Arsen HARUTYUNYAN (ARM) undoubtedly had the most impressive win of the morning session when he defeated Olympic silver medalist Spencer LEE (USA) 14-3 in the quarterfinals.

The win put Harutyunyan as the favorite to advance to the final at 57kg. However, Asian champion Chongsong HAN (PRK) had different ideas. He hit a lateral drop on Harutyunyan in the semifinals and secured a fall to enter the final. Han is the first Freestyle wrestler from the DPR Korea to enter the final in 11 years.

Han will now try to become a world champion when he takes on Bekzat ALMAZ UULU (KGZ) in the 57kg final after the Kyrgyz wrestler took it to Paris Olympic bronze medalist Gulomjon ABDULLAEV (UZB), winning 8-0.

Abdullaev seemed to have burnt out from the earlier matches and had little fight left in him as Almaz Uulu scored points at his will in the semifinals including four stepouts.

RESULTS

57kg
GOLD: Chongsong HAN (PRK) vs. Bekzat ALMAZ UULU (KGZ)

SF 1: Chongsong HAN (PRK) df. Arsen HARUTYUNYAN (ARM), via fall
SF 2: Bekzat ALMAZ UULU (KGZ) df. Gulomjon ABDULLAEV (UZB), 8-0

74kg
GOLD: Chermen VALIEV (ALB) vs. Kota TAKAHASHI (JPN)

SF 1: Chermen VALIEV (ALB) df. Zaurbek SIDAKOV (UWW), 6-4
SF 2: Kota TAKAHASHI (JPN) df. Taimuraz SALKAZANOV (SVK), 6-4

79kg
GOLD: Georgios KOUGIOUMTSIDIS (GRE) vs. Levi HAINES (USA)

SF 1: Georgios KOUGIOUMTSIDIS (GRE) df. Mohammad NOKHODI (IRI), 8-3
SF 2: Levi HAINES (USA) df. Suldkhuu OLONBAYAR (MGL), 4-1

92kg
GOLD: Trent HIDLAY (USA) vs. Amanula GADZHIMAGOMEDOV (UWW)

SF 1: Trent HIDLAY (USA) df. Osman NURMAGOMEDOV (AZE), 15-4
SF 2:  Amanula GADZHIMAGOMEDOV (UWW) df. Amirhossein FIROUZPOUR (IRI), 9-6