Snyderlaev slayer Tazhudinov storms to historic world gold for Bahrain

Tuesday, September 19, 2023 - 22:19 By Ken Marantz

BELGRADE, Serbia (September 19) -- Having slayed the Snyderlaev beast, Akhmed TAZHUDINOV (BRN) completed his historic and mind-boggling run to a world title with one final display of domination.

The 20-year-old Tazhudinov overwhelmed Magomedkhan MAGOMEDOV (AZE) in the freestyle 97kg final at the World Championships on Tuesday, giving Bahrain its first-ever world gold and just its second medal overall.

"On my way to Belgrade, I knew I could become the world champion," Tazhudinov said. "If I didn’t believe in myself, I wouldn’t have even come here."

It was also a historic day for Hungary, as Iszmail MUSZUKAJEV (HUN) became the Greco-loving nation's first freestyle world champion since 1979 with a victory at 65kg while denying Puerto Rico its first-ever gold medalist.

The United States, with three champions, won the freestyle team title for the second year in a row with 133 points, followed by Iran with 104 and Georgia, with 80 points, was third. Kazakhstan, which got its first-ever freestyle world champion, was fourth with 74 points and Azerbaijan was fifth with 66 points.

Meanwhile, Haruna OKUNO (JPN) started what is expected to be a Japanese women's gold rush by claiming the 55kg title for her third career gold and first since 2018, while China's Qi ZHANG (CHN) captured the other women's crown at stake at 59kg.

The 20-year-old Tazhudinov followed up his stunning victories on Monday over titans Kyle SNYDER (USA) and Abdulrashid SADULAEV (AIN) by defeating Magomedov by fall before a shocked and appreciative crowd at Belgrade's Stark Arena.

Tazhudinov started off with a single-leg takedown, then added a 4-point takedown. Magomedov, a bronze medalist last year, showed some life with a stepout, but Tazhudinov responded by securing a cradle and finishing off the Azeri with 11 seconds left in the first period.

Tazhudinov's triumph marked the first time since 2015 that neither Snyder nor Sadulaev made the top of the podium at 97kg at a World Championships or Olympics. Their head-to-head showdowns, dubbed Snyderlaev, became among the sport's most anticipated matches.

The way that Tazhudinov manhandled both may indicate a changing of the guard and definitely puts a target on his back in Paris. Against Snyder, Tazhudinov had a pair of 4-point counter lifts, while he built a 9-2 lead when Sadulaev was forced to default their semifinal with a neck injury.

"I was sure I would win [against Snyder], I’ve been watching his matches almost every day, I’ve studied all his techniques," Tazhudinov said. "We prepared the right technique and I won.

"It was very difficult to prepare for the match [against Sadulaev]. He had a neck injury, I didn’t even wrestle my best, because of that injury. I wish him a quick recovery and I hope we will wrestle each other again when he is ready."

Tazhudinov was born in the wrestling hotbed of Dagestan, and ironically is a product of Sadulaev's wrestling club. He began wrestling for Bahrain last year, and this year won gold at the Asian Championships and the Bishkek Ranking Series tournament.

He joins Adam BATIROV (BRN), who won the freestyle 70kg silver in 2018, as the lone world medalist representing Bahrain.

"Definitely, I feel great, I don’t even know how to explain what I feel, thanks a lot to my coaches and my parents for bringing me up," Tazhudinov said. "If they weren’t there for me, I wouldn’t have been here today."

Tazhudinov credited his coach Shamil Omarov, who is also personal coach of Sadulaev, in particular for his success. "He’s been training with me every day, he’s been going to every single training camp with me. He spent more time with me than with his own kids."

Iszmail MUSZUKAJEV (HUN) captured the 65kg gold medal over Sebastian RIVERA (PUR). (Photo: UWW / Kadir Caliskan)

Muszukajev also took his share of big scalps before crushing Sebastian RIVERA (PUR) by a 10-0 technical fall in the 65kg final to capture an elusive gold after finishing third in both 2019 and 2022.

"I’ve been going for this gold for so long," Muszukajev said. "I was the third at two World Championships and finally, I’ve won this belt. I’ve been dreaming to try it on for so long. It’s been very difficult. My side of the bracket was really tough."

En route to the final, Muszukajev defeated Olympic champion Takuto OTOGURO (JPN), albeit the Japanese was hampered by a foot injury, and defending world champion Rahman AMOUZAD (IRI) in a semifinal thriller.

Otoguro later forfeited his repechage bout due to the foot injury.

Muszukajev said he knew he was in for a challenge when he saw the brackets. "What can I do, I came here to win," he said. "I was ready to wrestle anyone.

"One of the most emotional matches was against the Iranian wrestler. I took a last-second win, and I felt that weight off my shoulders."

Against the American-raised Rivera, who became the second world medalist in Puerto Rican history, the lightning-quick Muszukajev started out with a takedown and stepout in the first period. In the second, the Hungarian blasted Rivera for a pair of 4-point takedowns, the second of which ended the match at 4:27.

Haruna OKUNO (JPN) won her third world title in Belgrade. (Photo: UWW / Kostadin Andonov)

Okuno, who failed to displace star Akari FUJINAMI (JPN) for a spot on the Japanese team at the Olympic weight of 53kg, scored two takedowns in the first period and made that hold up in a 4-2 victory over 2019 world champion Jacarra WINCHESTER (USA).

She acknowledged that she would have preferred to compete in an Olympic weight class, but was glad to get the ball rolling for the Japanese women's team by becoming its first champion of the tournament. Earlier, Japan put wrestlers into all four of Wednesday's finals.

"I wanted to get a solid win and get the momentum going for those who will be wrestling [in the finals] tomorrow," Okuno said. "I'm glad I was able to do that."

Okuno, one of only a handful of wrestlers who have won the "Grand Slam" of world titles in all four age groups, won her first senior gold at 55kg in 2017 before moving down to 53kg and triumphing again the following year.

"Five years has passed," she said. "I've realized again how difficult it is to get to the World Championships and how big a thing it is. I will never forget that."

Qi ZHANG (CHN) won China's first gold medal at the World Championships since 2019. (Photo: UWW / Kostadin Andonov)

In the women's 59kg final, Zhang, a silver medalist on the world junior (U20) and U23 levels, picked up her first senior gold with a 4-1 victory over veteran Yuliia TKACH (UKR).

Zhang, who had three third-place finishes in international tournaments this season, was trailing 1-1 on criteria when she scored the winning takedown with an arm drag with 1:15 left. Tkach got in on a single in the dying seconds, but Zhang kept her from turning it into points. An unsuccessful challenge added the final point.

Tkach, the European silver medalist this year, had been aiming to win her second world gold, nine years after winning the first in 2014 at 63kg. Instead, she can be proud knowing she will be taking home her fifth world medal and first since 2018.

Kyle SNYDER (USA) defeated Magomed IBRAGIMOV (UZB) in the repechage to reach the bronze-medal bout at 97kg. (Photo: UWW / Amirreza Aliasgari)

Snyder gains bronze by default

In the bronze-medal matches, Snyder claimed his seventh world medal and second bronze without a fight when Sadulaev defaulted their bronze-medal match. Sadulaev had reportedly already flown back to Moscow.

The forfeit also means that the United States gained another quota for the Paris Olympics.

European champion Givi MATCHARASHVILI (GEO) will leave Belgrade with a bronze medal for the second straight year after topping Ibrahim CIFTCI (TUR) 6-2 in the other third-place match at 97kg.

Shamil MAMEDOV (AIN) made sure Amouzad would leave Belgrade without a medal after notching an 8-6 win at 57kg in an entertaining bout between two young wrestlers.

After Mamedov went ahead 2-0 with a stepout and a fleeing point tacked on, Amouzad came back with his silky smooth duck-under takedown. But Mamedov came up with the big move, a counter whizzer to the back for 4 to go up 6-2 going into the second period.

Amouzad came back with a stepout, then charged ahead with his underhook for a takedown to cut the lead to 6-5. Mamedov, the 2021 world U20 champion, never wavered and clinched the win and the bronze medal with a takedown with 43 seconds left.

The other 65kg bronze went to European champion Vazgen TEVANYAN (ARM), who scored two stepouts and a late takedown in the second period to top Maxim SACULTAN (MDA) 5-1.

Both Mamedov and Tevanyan grabbed Paris Olympic quotas with the former winning it as an Individual Neutral Athlete and Tevanyan for Armenia.

Othelie HOEIE (NOR) won Norway's second world medal since 2005. (Photo: UWW / Amirreza Aliasgari)

It was a red-letter day for the Norwegian women's team and its Japanese coach Yurie YONEOKA when young Othelie HOEIE (NOR) defeated Elena BRUGGER (GER) 5-1 for a women's 59kg bronze -- just the Nordic nation's second world medal since 2005.

Othelie, a European bronze medalist, was on the activity clock and about to go behind on criteria in the second period when she nailed Brugger with a pancake to go ahead 3-1. She then added a snapdown takedown to seal the deal.

Yoneoka, who wrestled and coached collegiately in the U.S., was hired by the Norwegian federation to turn around a program that won 11 gold medals in the late 1980s and early 90s -- including three by Hoeie's mother Gudrun -- but has had none since and only one finalist.

Jennifer PAGE (USA) assured she will be taking home a momento of her senior world debut at the ripe age of 30, pancaking Alyona KOLESNIK (AZE) to her back and securing a fall in 1:41 to win the other 59kg bronze medal.

At 55kg, Mariana DRAGUTAN (MDA) avenged a loss to Karla GODINEZ (CAN) in last year's bronze-medal match, securing the winning takedown at the edge with 35 seconds left for a 3-2 victory that put her on a world podium for the first time on any age level.

Godinez had received an activity point in each period but was unable to keep her knee from hitting the mat and make the takedown a stepout instead. The Canadian side made a specious challenge after the buzzer, which added the final point as Dragutan became the fourth Moldovan woman in history to win a world medal.

Anastasia BLAYVAS (GER) added senior world bronze to the U23 one she won last year, scoring a stepout with 22 seconds left to edge teenager Neha SHARMA (UWW) on last-point criteria 2-2 for the other 55kg bronze.

Amouzad gains Paris ticket

In the fifth-place playoff for an Olympic berth held later, Amouzad shrugged off the acrobatic antics of Sacultan and charged to a 10-0 victory in 4:27 at 65kg.

After gaining an activity point, Amouzad got Sacultan's leg in the air and managed to not only hold on when the Moldovan twice executed a spinning back flip, but he finished off the takedown. In the second period, Amouzad scored a 4-point takedown and ended the match with a powerful double-leg takedown.

At 97kg, Turkey received the berth when Ciftci was awarded an injury default over Sadulaev.

Day 4 Results

Freestyle

65kg (45 entries)
GOLD: Iszmail MUSZUKAJEV (HUN) df. Sebastian RIVERA (PUR) by TF, 11-0, 4:27

BRONZE: Shamil MAMEDOV (AIN) df. Rahman AMOUZAD (IRI), 8-6
BRONZE: Vazgen TEVANYAN (ARM) df. Maxim SACULTAN (MDA), 5-1

5th-Place Playoff: Rahman AMOUZAD (IRI) df. Maxim SACULTAN (MDA) by TF, 10-0, 4:27

97kg (35 entries)
GOLD: Akhmed TAZHUDINOV (BRN) df. Magomedkhan MAGOMEDOV (AZE) by Fall, 2:49 (8-1)

BRONZE: Givi MATCHARASHVILI (GEO) df. Ibrahim CIFTCI (TUR), 6-2
BRONZE: Kyle SNYDER (USA) df. Abdulrashid SADULAEV (AIN) by Inj. Def.

5th-Place Playoff: Ibrahim CIFTCI (TUR) df. Abdulrashid SADULAEV (AIN) by Inj. Def.

Women's Wrestling

50kg (28 entries)
GOLD: Yui SUSAKI (JPN) vs. Otgonjargal DOLGORJAV (MGL)

Semifinal: Yui SUSAKI (JPN) df. Ziqi FENG (CHN), 8-2
Semifinal: Otgonjargal DOLGORJAV (MGL) df. Sarah HILDEBRANDT (USA), 7-5

55kg (19 entries)
GOLD: Haruna OKUNO (JPN) df. Jacarra WINCHESTER (USA), 4-2

BRONZE: Mariana DRAGUTAN (MDA) df. Karla GODINEZ (CAN), 3-2
BRONZE: Anastasia BLAYVAS (GER) df. Neha SHARMA (UWW), 2-2

57kg (36 entries)
GOLD: Anastasia NICHITA (MDA) vs. Tsugumi SAKURAI (JPN)

Semifinal: Anastasia NICHITA (MDA) df. Elvira KAMALOGLU (TUR) by TF 10-0, 4:14
Semifinal: Tsugumi SAKURAI (JPN) df. Helen MAROULIS (USA), 6-0

59kg (22 entries)
GOLD: Qi ZHANG (CHN) df. Yuliia TKACH (UKR), 4-1

BRONZE: Jennifer PAGE (USA) df. Alyona KOLESNIK (AZE) by Fall, 1:40 (4-0)
BRONZE: Othelie HOEIE (NOR) df. Elena BRUGGER (GER), 5-1

65kg (17 entries)
GOLD: Macey KILTY (USA) vs. Nonoka OZAKI (JPN)

Semifinal: Macey KILTY (USA) df. Tatsiana PAULAVA (AIN) by TF, 10-0, 2:29
Semifinal: Nonoka OZAKI (JPN) df. Lili LILI (CHN) by TF, 10-0, 1:01

76kg (29 entries)
GOLD: Aiperi MEDET KYZY (KGZ) vs. Yuka KAGAMI (JPN)

Semifinal: Aiperi MEDET KYZY (KGZ) df. Tatiana RENTERIA (COL) by Fall, 2:32 (4-2)
Semifinal: Yuka KAGAMI (JPN) df. Milaimys MARIN (CUB), 5-2

#WrestleZagreb

World Championships 2025: Day 6 GR 55kg, 77kg, 82kg, 130kg Highlights

Thursday, September 18, 2025 - 08:31 By Ken Marantz & Vinay Siwach

ZAGREB, Croatia (September 18) -- Greco-Roman day at the World Championships in Zagreb. Four weight classes -- 55kg, 77kg, 82kg and 130kg -- are in action with Olympic champion Nao KUSAKA (JPN) and Demeu ZHADRAYEV (KAZ) are expected to meet in 77kg quarterfinals.

WATCH LIVE | LIVE MATCH ORDER | DAY 5 RESULTS

77kg semifinals
SF 1: Malkhas AMOYAN (ARM) vs. Alireza ABDEVALI (IRI)
SF 2: Nao KUSAKA (JPN) vs. Robert FRITSCH (HUN)

14:55: In the most anticipated match of the session, Nao KUSAKA (JPN) repeated his victory Demeu ZHADRAYEV (KAZ) from the final at the Paris Olympics to advance to the 77kg semifinals as he pursues a first world gold. Kusaka got the first chance at par terre, but it was Zhadrayev who came out with the points. Kusaka went to his usual cross body lock, but Zhadrayev used the momentum and timed it perfectly to launch a throw himself. Although Kusaka got behind for reversal, it left Zhadrayev ahead 2-2 on criteria. In the second period, a quick charge at the whistle sees Kusaka gain a stepout that is awarded on challenge. Kusaka adds another stepout, then fends off the pressure from Zhadrayev while avoiding getting flagged for passivity and advances with a 4-2 victory. Next up for Kusaka will be Robert FRITSCH (HUN), from the country where the Japanese went to train prior to his triumph in Paris.

14:54: Malkhas AMOYAN (ARM) blocks Ahmet YILMAZ (TUR) as the Turkiye tries to turn Amoyan from par tarre to get the two points for danger position. There is no way back for Yilmaz as Amoyan, the Olympic bronze medalist, wins 3-1 to enter the semifinals at 77kg.

14:53: The Iranian win-rush continues as the country puts all four wrestlers in the semifinals with Alireza ABDEVALI (IRI) beating Sanan SULEYMANOV (AZE), 3-1, at 77kg. Abdevali turned Suleymanov from par terre to take the lead and the win.

14:50: Robert FRITSCH (HUN) spoils the bid of local hero Antonio KAMENJASEVIC (CRO) to make the 77kg semifinals, scoring a stepout in the first period that proves the difference in a 2-1 victory.

55kg semifinals
SF 1: Emin CAKIR (TUR) vs. Vakhtang LOLUA (GEO)
SF 2: Eldaniz AZIZLI (AZE) vs. Payam AHMADI (IRI)

14:42: European bronze medalist Vakhtang LOLUA (GEO) is into the world semifinals with a 3-2 victory over Denis MIHAI (ROU). A stepout from Lolua made the difference as he held criteria at 2-2. A lost challenge from Mihai gives another point to Lolua

14:40: In a battle between a 30-something and a teenager, experience wins out, which is not surprising given it involves four-time 55kg world champion Eldaniz AZIZLI (AZE). Azizli scores a takedown and gut wrench in the first period against 18-year-0ld Jayden RANEY (USA), who gets his chance on top in par terre in the second, but cannot budge the Azeri, who wins 5-1 to advance to the semifinals.

14:35: Emin CAKIR (TUR) upsets former world bronze medalist Ikhtiyor BOTIROV (UZB) at 55kg, with a 9-0 technical superiority win.

14:31: Payam AHMADI (IRI) quickly joins the Iranian parade into the semifinals, needing just 25 seconds to bull Artiom DELEANU (MDA) down to the mat and execute three quick-fire rolls for an 8-0 victory at 55kg.

82kg semifinals
SF 1: Taizo YOSHIDA (JPN) vs. Gela BOLKVADZE (GEO)
SF 2: Karlo KODRIC (CRO) vs. Gholamreza FAROKHI (IRI)

14:28: A match for the ages as Taizo YOSHIDA (JPN), a former world U17 champion and recent world U20 bronze medalist, beats European champion Gurban GURBANOV (AZE), who is cautioned out of the match. Gurbanov had a 6-2 lead but Yoshida, a powerhouse, keeps pressuring Gurbanov who is struggling with conditioning. A slew of stepouts and Yoshida makes it 8-6. On the stepout with 16 seconds left, Gurbanov receives his third caution and is disqualified from the match, giving Yoshida the win.

14:22: Adlet TIULIUBAEV (UWW) thought he had it covered but Gela BOLKVADZE (GEO) scores two turns from the third passivity par terre to beat Tiuliubaev 5-4 and enter the semifinals at 82kg.

14:20: Karlo KODRIC (CRO), perhaps charged up by a vocal block of home fans in the stands nearby, steps over for 2 on a gut wrench attempt by Mihail BRADU (MDA), giving him a 4-1 lead midway through the second period of their 82kg quarterfinal. Kodric gives up a late stepout, but walks off a 4-2 winner.

14:15: Gholamreza FAROKHI (IRI) fights off a whizzer by Ramon BETSCHART (SUI) to secure a takedown, then traps an arm and executes four exposures to advance to the 82kg semifinals with an 8-0 victory in 1:05.

130kg semifinals
SF 1: Darius VITEK (HUN) vs Pavel HLINCHUK (UWW)
SF 2: Amin MIRZAZADEH (IRI) vs Wenhao JIANG (CHN)

14:07: Wenhao JIANG (CHN) with a pair of stepouts and he's into the 130kg quarterfinals with a 4-1 win over Jello KRAHMER (GER).

14:05: Darius VITEK (HUN) is the beneficiary of the new Greco-Roman rule in which the wrestler with first passivity point win. He beats Mykola KUCHMII (UKR), 1-1, at 130kg.

14:03: Pavel HLINCHUK (UWW) with an over-under throw for four over Hamza BAKIR (TUR) in the 130kg quarterfinals. Bakir tries to come back with a double-arm lock throw but Hlinchuk blocks and secures the fall.

14:01: Elias KUOSMANEN (FIN) surprisingly throws world champion Amin MIRZAZADEH (IRI) for 4 with an arm throw in their 130kg quarterfinal, but any joy is gone in milliseconds as the Iranian rolls through the move and puts Kuosmanen on his back. Mirzazadeh doesn't waste the opportunity and secures the fall in 1:13.

Quarterfinals will begin at the same time

13:47: Olympic champion Nao KUSAKA (JPN) books an Olympic final rematch with Demeu ZHADRAYEV (KAZ) with a 7-0 victory over Ihor BYCHKOV (UKR) at 77kg. He scored all his points in the first period and somehow there were no points in the second period.

13:43: Malkhas AMOYAN (ARM) caps a one-sided 10-0 victory over Mateusz BERNATEK (POL) with a 4-point throw in the second period to secure his berth in the 77kg quarterfinals.

13:37: Alexandrin GUTU (MDA) used his head, and not in a good way, and it cost him a shot at a gold medal. Gutu was leading FRITSCH (HUN) 2-0 in their 77kg bout when he was hit with a 2-point penalty for a head butt, which also put him behind on criteria. Fritsch then received a passivity point, and he held on for a 3-2 victory. Ironically, Gutu suffered a head cut from his own action and had to have treatment, including a bandage around his head, which he ripped off and tossed in anger after the match.

13:30: Aleksa ILIC (SRB) almost pulls off a huge upset over Olympic silver medalist Demeu ZHADRAYEV (KAZ) at 77kg. Ilic led 5-1 at the break but Zhadrayev, who for the par terre, scored a turn to make it 5-4 but a stepout gave a point to Ilic. Zhadrayev hits a big four-pointer against a tired Ilic his place in the quarterfinal with an 8-6 win.

13:21: World bronze medalist Denis MIHAI (ROU) with a takedown and roll, then a 4-point takedown against an overmatched Alexander CUEVAS (SGP) and he's into the 55kg quarterfinals with an 8-0 victory in just over a minute.

13:10: World U20 champion Payam AHMADI (IRI) gets his debut on the senior level off to an impressive start, manhandling Ulan MURATBEK UULU (KGZ) in a 9-0 win to advance to the 55kg quarterfinals.

13:07: Young Taizo YOSHIDA (JPN), the 2024 Asian champion, extricates himself from a 4-point hole, scoring five points in the second period to top Alexander JOHANSSON (SWE) 6-5 at 82kg. Yoshida, who gave up a 4-point arm throw in the first period, pressures Johansson down for two takedowns, then gets a stepout with :54 left to take the lead for the first time.

13:05: Gurban GURBANOV (AZE) gets the first of the two passivity calls, and with no other scoring, that makes him a 1-1 winner over Shahin BADAGHIMOFRAD (QAT) at 82kg.

13:04: Gholamreza FAROKHI (IRI) with powerpacked 8-0 technical superiority win over world silver medalist Erik SZILVASSY (HUN) at 82kg. Szilvassy was never allowed to settle down by Farokhi

13:00: Four-time world champion Eldaniz AZIZLI (AZE) with a 22-second technical superiority over Anil MOR (IND) at 55kg.

12:58: A stepout with 33 seconds left, Hamza BAKIR (TUR) beats Oscar PINO (CUB) 3-1 at 130kg. Bakir led 1-1 on criteria as he was given the first par terre position. But As Pino tried to score a stepout late in the second period, Bakir turned it around and managed to force Pino to put the hand before Bakir himself did. Cuba challenged the call but lost it.

12:52: With calls of 'Karlo! Karlo!' and the banging of drums reverberating throughout the arena, Karlo KODRIC (CRO) is through to the 82kg quarterfinals with a 5-0 victory over Bekzat ORUNKUL UULU (KGZ).

12:45: Pavel HLINCHUK (UWW) comes back from 3-1 down to beat Razmik KURDYAN (ARM) 4-3, thanks for a successful challenge from Hlinchuk at the end.

12:42: Defending 130kg champion and Olympic bronze medalist Amin MIRZAZADEH (IRI) gets two gut wrenches off par terre for a 5-0 lead over Marko KOSCEVIC (CRO), much to the dismay of the home crowd. In the second period, Mirzazadeh adds a stepout, then scores a takedown for an 8-0 win with just over two minutes left.

12:36: Four-time Asian medalist Alimkhan SYZDYKOV (KAZ) rns out of a gas about two minutes to soon, giving Mykola KUCHMII (UKR) two easy takedowns in the second period and a 6-4 win at 130kg.

12:35: Elias KUOSMANEN (FIN) pulls off the biggest surprise of the session so far, scoring a late takedown to topple Sergei SEMENOV (UWW) 3-3 at 130kg. In the first period, Semenov counters a throw attempt for a 2-point takedown, with an additional point for an unsuccessful challenge, but Kuosmanen strikes back with a stepout to make it 3-1 at the break. In the second period, a mighty shove sends Semenov down to the mat, and Kuosmanen pounces to secure the takedown and the shocking victory.

12:12: Jonni SARKKINEN (FIN) gets the first par terre position in the 77kg bout against Olympic silver medalist Demeu ZHADRAYEV (KAZ) and he scores from a throw in which the Kazakhstan wrestlers lands outside the zone. Sarkkinen leads 2-0. Just before the break, Zhadrayev gets a stepout to make it 2-1 Zhadrayev got the par terre in the second period to take a 2-2 criteria lead before getting a exposure for two points. Finland challenges the call. The two points are confirmed and Zhadrayev lead grows to 5-2, which remains the winning score.

12:09: Paris Olympic bronze medalist Malkhas AMOYAN (ARM), a former world champion with three world medals, was about to become the beneficiary of the new rule giving the wrestler who scores the first point in a Greco bout that ends 1-1 the victory, but a late challenge over a last-second move instead makes him a 2-1 winner over Kamal BEY (USA).

12:05: Two-time world U23 champion Alexandrin GUTU (MDA) gets off to an awesome start, throwing Lai Hsing YAO (TPE) twice with spectacular four and five pointers to start his campaign at 77kg with a 12-0 win.

11:57: A welcome win for the home team. Antonio KAMENJASEVIC (CRO) rips off four rolls from par terre and he advances with a 9-0 victory over Hyeonjin KANG (KOR) at 77kg.

11:55: Olympic champion Nao KUSAKA (JPN) warms up with an 8-0 technical superiority win over AMAN (IND) at 77kg. He is expected to meet Olympic silver medalist Demeu ZHADRAYEV (KAZ) in the quarterfinals if the seeds hold.

11:40: Taiga ONISHI (JPN), whose younger sister Sakura won the women's 59kg gold on Tuesday night, gets a quick takedown, only to have Huoying SHI (CHN) reverse in their opening match at 55kg. Shi goes ahead in the second period with an exposure off an arm throw attempt, then hits a back suplex that is good for another 2. Shi resists a throw attempt and gets another 2, giving him a 7-2 win.

11:19: Gholamreza FAROKHI (IRI), winner of the Ranking Series event here in Zagreb, has no need to go to par terre. He alternates three takedowns with two stepouts, then gets a point for a denied challenge to defeat Qingzhe LI (CHN) 9-0 in precisely two minutes at 82kg.

11:15: Four-time world medalist Oscar PINO (CUB), his nation's heir apparent at 130kg to legendary five-time Olympic champion Mijain LOPEZ (CUB), easily executes a gut wrench from par terre, then is a rock when put on the bottom and he's through with a 3-1 victory over Jacob LOGAARD (SWE).

11:05: Pavel HLINCHUK (UWW), who won 2023 world u23 gold at 97kg, is now at 130kg. He begins his first World Championships at this weight with a 9-0 victory over Sulkhan BUIDZE (GEO).

11:00: Sergei SEMENOV (UWW), a two-time former Olympic bronze medal who has a world gold from 2018, gets a pair of rolls from par terre and, although Cohlton SCHULTZ (USA) managed a reversal after the second one, safely posts a 5-2 victory at 130kg to start the Greco action on Mat D.

10:55: Alexander JOHANSSON (SWE) gets a big win for Sweden as he defeats former European champion and young star Alperen BERBER (TUR) 2-1, at 82kg. Berber is coming back after an injury he suffered at the Mongolian Ranking Series.

Snyderlaev slayer Tazhudinov storms to historic world gold for Bahrain

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World Championships 2025: Day 6 GR 55kg, 77kg, 82kg, 130kg Highlights