Soryan, Greco-Roman, World Championships, Gaber

Soryan Eyes Sixth Title, Gaber Readies Run to Rio (Live Updates)

By William May

TASHKENT (September 14) – London 2012 Olympic Games gold medalist Hamid SORYAN (IRI) seeks his sixth world title and Athens 2004 champion Karam GABER (EGY) prepares a run for Rio 2016 on Sunday, the final day of the wrestling world championships in Tashkent.

Soryan, however, could be looking at a challenge from Asia champion and local favorite Elmurat TASMURADOV (UZB) in the semifinals at the Gymnastics Palace, and then, in the 59kg final, from 2013 world champion Ivo ANGELOV (BUL).

For his part, even before reaching the semifinals, Angelov will likely have to get by the winner of the match-up between Olympic bronze medalists Mingiyan SEMENOV (RUS) or Roman AMOYAN (ARM).

The 35-year-old Gaber, meanwhile, wrestling in his first competition since winning a silver medal in London, will be tested early and, if he navigates the bracket successfully, then face world silver medalist Artur ALEKSANYAN (ARM) in the 98kg championship final.

Aleksanyan, who narrowly missed the title last year in Budapest, is on a mission to win it all this year and follow Arsen JULFALAKYAN (ARM) to the top of the medals podium in Tashkent. Julfalakyan won the world title at 75kg on Friday.

Rasul CHUNAYEV (AZE), runner-up to Tamas LORINCZ (HUN) at the European championships and Golden Grand Prix Final, will try to capitalize on the Hungarian’s move to 66kg and close out the year with the world title at 71kg.

MAT A: http://new.livestream.com/unitedworldwrestling/events/3369840

MAT B: http://new.livestream.com/unitedworldwrestling/events/3369848

MAT C: http://new.livestream.com/unitedworldwrestling/events/3369851

Greco-Roman

59kg (36 entries)

Soryan begins his quest for a sixth world title near the bottom of the 36-wrestler bracket. A bump in the road might be European runner-up Victor CIOBANU (MDA), his likely opponent in the quarterfinals.

Asia champion Tasmuradov will have the backing of a boisterous crowd as he opens against Edward BARSEGIAN (POL) and Kristijan FRIS (SEB) on his way to a semifinal berth opposite Soryan.

Angelov starts at the bottom of the upper half of the bracket and in the quarterfinals could meet the winner of the Amoyan-Semenov match-up in the first round.

Peter MODOS (HUN), a 2013 bronze medalist in Budapest, has had a quiet year recuperating from a knee injury suffered in March, but could still navigate to the fourth semifinal berth.

71kg (30 entries)

Chunayev would seem to be the class of this non-Olympic weight category, but will be tested early at the bottom of the bracket by Justin LESTER (USA) in the round of 16 and European bronze medalist Yunus OZEL (TUR) in the quarterfinals.

Varsham BORANYAN (ARM), winner at the German Grand Prix in June, could emerge a challenger to Chunayev from the quarter above.

At the top of the bracket, Poddubny tournament winner Chingiz LABAZANOV (RUS) and and Afshin BYABANGARD (IRI) could duel for the uppermost semifinal berth, while Aleksandar DZEMYANOVICH (BLR) and Pytlasinski tourney runner-up Mathia MAASCH (GER) battle for the berth opposite.

98kg (30 entries)

European champion Aleksanyan begins the upper half of the bracket and is looking at a potential meeting in the quarterfinals with Aleksander HRABOVIK (BLR), a bronze medalist at the German Grand Prix.

London 2012 gold medalist Ghasem REZAIE (IRI), 2013 junior world champion Musa EVLOEV (RUS) and European bronze medalist Marthin NIELSEN (NOR) make for a crowded top quarter of the bracket in a battle to face Aleksanyan in the semifinals.

At the very bottom of the bracket, Gaber appears ready to make a run for Rio, but first will to battle through a swarm of tough competitors, including European runner-up Cenk ILDEM (TUR).

The final semifinal berth may well go to the Pytlasinski bronze medal winner Miloslav METODIEV (BUL) or Alin ALEX-CIURARIU (ROU), a bronze medalist at the world student championships in July

59kg

GOLD: Hamid Mohammad SORYAN (IRI) v. Mingiyan SEMENOV (RUS)
BRONZE: Elmurat TASMURADOV (UZB) v. Ismael BORRERO (CUB)
BRONZE: Spenser Thomas MANGO (USA) v. Stig-Andre BERGE (NOR)

Semifinal: Hamid Mohammad SORYAN (IRI) df. Elmurat TASMURADOV (UZB), 2-1  
Semifinal: Mingiyan SEMENOV (RUS) df. Spenser Thomas MANGO (USA) by TF, 9-1 

Repechage: Stig-Andre BERGE (NOR) df. Jung-Baik LEE (KOR), 1-0  
Repechage: Ismael BORRERO (CUB) df. Haithem Ahmed FAHMY (EGY), 13-9  
Repechage: Jung-Baik LEE (KOR) df. Roman AMOYAN (ARM), 4-2  
Repechage: Haithem Ahmed FAHMY (EGY) df. Alex Iordache ANECHITEI (ROU) by TF, 9-0

Quarterfinal: Hamid Mohammad SORYAN (IRI) df. Taleh MAMMADOV (AZE), 3-0  
Quarterfinal: Elmurat TASMURADOV (UZB) df. Lumin WANG (CHN) by TF, 9-0  
Quarterfinal: Mingiyan SEMENOV (RUS) df. Stig-Andre BERGE (NOR), 5-0  
Quarterfinal: Spenser Thomas MANGO (USA) df. Kazuma KURAMOTO (JPN) by TF, 10-0

1/8: Hamid Mohammad SORYAN (IRI) df. Ismael BORRERO (CUB), 5-0  
1/8: Elmurat TASMURADOV (UZB) df. Tonimir SOKOL (CRO) by TF, 9-0  
1/8: Kazuma KURAMOTO (JPN) df. Andres MONTANO (ECU), 2-2  
1/8: Taleh MAMMADOV (AZE) df. Deniz MENEKSE (GER), 6-3  
1/8: Stig-Andre BERGE (NOR) df. Ivo Serafimov ANGELOV (BUL), 1-1  
1/8: Spenser Thomas MANGO (USA) df. Peter MODOS (HUN), 4-0  
1/8: Lumin WANG (CHN) df. Arsen ERALIEV (KGZ) by TF, 12-3  
1/8: Mingiyan SEMENOV (RUS) df. Jung-Baik LEE (KOR) by FALL, 6-0  

1/16: Hamid Mohammad SORYAN (IRI) df. Haithem Ahmed FAHMY (EGY), 2-1  
1/16: Taleh MAMMADOV (AZE) df. Yasin OZAY (FRA), 3-2  
1/16: Tonimir SOKOL (CRO) df. Kristian FRIS (SRB), 4-4  
1/16: Stig-Andre BERGE (NOR) df. Manuel A. LOPEZ (MEX), 5-0  
1/16: Kazuma KURAMOTO (JPN) df. Ravinder SINGH (IND), 4-1  
1/16: Peter MODOS (HUN) df. Tobias Fonnesbek (DEN), 3-1  
1/16: Ismael BORRERO (CUB) df. Goderdzi DAVITADZE (GEO), 7-1  
1/16: Arsen ERALIEV (KGZ) df. Ievgen MIAGKYI (UKR), 2-1  
1/16: Elmurat TASMURADOV (UZB) df. Edward BERSEGIAN (POL) by TF, 8-0  
1/16: Jung-Baik LEE (KOR) df. Jussi-Pekka NIEMISTOE (FIN) by TF, 13-3  
1/16: Andres MONTANO (ECU) df. Andrey TSARYUK (ISR) by TF, 8-0  
1/16: Deniz MENEKSE (GER) df. Victor CIOBANU (MDA) by FALL, 6-2  
1/16: Lumin WANG (CHN) df. Maksim KAZHARSKI (BLR), 6-2  
1/16: Ivo Serafimov ANGELOV (BUL) df. Albert BAGHUMYAN (ESP) by TF, 9-0  
1/16: Mingiyan SEMENOV (RUS) df. Roman AMOYAN (ARM), 3-0  
1/16: Spenser Thomas MANGO (USA) df. Fatih UCUNCU (TUR), 2-2  

Qualification: Haithem Ahmed FAHMY (EGY) df. Suparmanto SUPARMANTO (INA) by TF, 8-0  
Qualification: Goderdzi DAVITADZE (GEO) df. Fouad FAJARI (MAR), 5-0  
Qualification: Hamid Mohammad SORYAN (IRI) df. Alex Iordache ANECHITEI (ROU) by TF, 8-0  
Qualification: Ismael BORRERO (CUB) df. Yerbol KONYRATOV (KAZ), 5-0  

71 kg

GOLD: Yunus OZEL (TUR) v. Chingiz LABAZANOV (RUS)
BRONZE: Varsham BORANYAN (ARM) v. Rasul CHUNAYEV (AZE)
BRONZE: Aliaksandr DZEMYANOVICH (BLR) v. Afshim BYABANGARD (IRI)

Semifinal: Yunus OZEL (TUR) df. Varsham BORANYAN (ARM) by forfeit, 5-0  
Semifinal: Chingiz LABAZANOV (RUS) df. Aliaksandr DZEMYANOVICH (BLR) by TF, 8-0  

Repechage: Afshim BYABANGARD (IRI) df. Balint KORPASI (HUN), 4-3  
Repechage: Rasul CHUNAYEV (AZE) df. Ionel PUSCASU (ROU) by TF, 9-1  
Repechage: Balint KORPASI (HUN) df. Aleksandar MAKSIMOVIC (SRB), 7-2  
Repechage: Ionel PUSCASU (ROU) df. Fernando Vicente GOMEZ (MEX) by TF, 8-0

Quarterfinal: Yunus OZEL (TUR) df. Rasul CHUNAYEV (AZE), 4-1  
Quarterfinal: Varsham BORANYAN (ARM) df. Demeu ZHADRAYEV (KAZ), 2-1  
Quarterfinal: Aliaksandr DZEMYANOVICH (BLR) df. Shermet PERMANOV (TKM) by FALL, 4-6  
Quarterfinal: Chingiz LABAZANOV (RUS) df. Afshim BYABANGARD (IRI), 4-0

1/8: Rasul CHUNAYEV (AZE) df. Justin Dashaun LESTER (USA), 9-7  
1/8: Shermet PERMANOV (TKM) df. Knut Zakarias TALLROTH (SWE) by FALL, 7-3  
1/8: Afshim BYABANGARD (IRI) df. Young-Ha KIM (KOR), 2-0  
1/8: Demeu ZHADRAYEV (KAZ) df. K.K. YADAV (IND) by TF, 8-0  
1/8: Aliaksandr DZEMYANOVICH (BLR) df. Kairat TUGOLBAEY (KGZ), 10-2  
1/8: Yunus OZEL (TUR) df. Ionel PUSCASU (ROU), 3-1  
1/8: Varsham BORANYAN (ARM) df. Dilshodjon TURDIEV (UZB) by TF, 10-2  
1/8: Chingiz LABAZANOV (RUS) df. Balint KORPASI (HUN), 2-1  

Qualification: Justin Dashaun LESTER (USA) df. Mindia TZULUKIDZE (GEO), 5-0  
Qualification: Demeu ZHADRAYEV (KAZ) df. Ridong ZHANG (CHN) by TF, 9-0  
Qualification: Knut Zakarias TALLROTH (SWE) df. Matthias MAASCH (GER), 2-2  
Qualification: Aliaksandr DZEMYANOVICH (BLR) df. Tomas SOBECKY (CZE) by TF, 8-0  
Qualification: Yunus OZEL (TUR) df. Fernando Vicente GOMEZ (MEX) by TF, 8-0  
Qualification: Rasul CHUNAYEV (AZE) df. Noritomo ETO (JPN) by TF, 8-0  
Qualification: Dilshodjon TURDIEV (UZB) df. Kristaps KALNAKARKLIS (LAT) by TF, 8-0  
Qualification: Shermet PERMANOV (TKM) df. Franson Rsei GIBBONS (PLW) by FALL, 4-0  
Qualification: Chingiz LABAZANOV (RUS) df. Aleksandar MAKSIMOVIC (SRB), 5-2  
Qualification: Ionel PUSCASU (ROU) df. Georgios PREVOLARAKIS (GRE), 7-0  
Qualification: K.K. YADAV (IND) df. Vojtech JAKUS (SVK) by FALL, 5-3  
Qualification: Varsham BORANYAN (ARM) df. Riccardo Vito ABBRESCIA (ITA) by TF, 9-0  
Qualification: Kairat TUGOLBAEY (KGZ) df. Joseph Dominic LOPEZ (GUM) by TF, 9-0  
Qualification: Balint KORPASI (HUN) df. Armen VARDANYAN (UKR), 2-0  

98kg

GOLD: Oliver Adrian HASSLER (GER) v. Artur ALEKSANYAN (ARM)
BRONZE: Cenk ILDEM (TUR) v. Alin ALEXUC-CIURARIU (ROU)
BRONZE: Ghasem Gholamreza REZAEI (IRI) v. Aliaksandr HRABOVIK (BLR)

Semifinal: Oliver Adrian HASSLER (GER) df. Cenk ILDEM (TUR), 5-0  
Semifinal: Artur ALEKSANYAN (ARM) df. Ghasem Gholamreza REZAEI (IRI), 3-1  

Repechage: Aliaksandr HRABOVIK (BLR) df. Adam VARGA (HUN), 6-0  
Repechage: Alin ALEXUC-CIURARIU (ROU) df. Miloslav Yuriev METODIEV (BUL) by Injury Default, 0-0  
Repechage: Adam VARGA (HUN) df. Arslan SAPARMAMMEDOV (TKM), 5-0  
Repechage: Alin ALEXUC-CIURARIU (ROU) df. Radoslaw Pawel GRZYBICKI (POL), 3-0

Quarterfinal: Cenk ILDEM (TUR) df. Ardo ARUSAAR (EST), 1-0  
Quarterfinal: Oliver Adrian HASSLER (GER) df. Miloslav Yuriev METODIEV (BUL) by Injury Default, 7-2  
Quarterfinal: Artur ALEKSANYAN (ARM) df. Aliaksandr HRABOVIK (BLR), 1-0  
Quarterfinal: Ghasem Gholamreza REZAEI (IRI) df. Marthin Hamlet NIELSEN (NOR), 2-0

1/8: Oliver Adrian HASSLER (GER) df. Alin ALEXUC-CIURARIU (ROU), 3-0  
1/8: Artur ALEKSANYAN (ARM) df. Adam VARGA (HUN), 2-0  
1/8: Cenk ILDEM (TUR) df. Timo Antero KALLIO (FIN), 3-1  
1/8: Miloslav Yuriev METODIEV (BUL) df. Erwin Jose CARABALLO (VEN) by DQ, 4-0  
1/8: Ghasem Gholamreza REZAEI (IRI) df. Musa EVLOEV (RUS), 2-1  
1/8: Ardo ARUSAAR (EST) df. Hardeep SINGH (IND), 4-1  
1/8: Aliaksandr HRABOVIK (BLR) df. Zhanarbek KABDOLOV (KAZ), 4-2  
1/8: Marthin Hamlet NIELSEN (NOR) df. Caylor Ryan WILLIAMS (USA), 3-0  

Qualification: Timo Antero KALLIO (FIN) df. Karam Mohamed GABER (EGY) by FALL, 2-0  
Qualification: Ardo ARUSAAR (EST) df. Abudurexiti ALIMUJIANG (CHN) by TF, 10-1  
Qualification: Miloslav Yuriev METODIEV (BUL) df. Dimitriy TIMCHENKO (UKR), 3-2  
Qualification: Zhanarbek KABDOLOV (KAZ) df. Vasil IMERLISHVILI (GEO), 1-0  
Qualification: Musa EVLOEV (RUS) df. Evgeniy ACHKASOV (UZB), 6-0  
Qualification: Cenk ILDEM (TUR) df. Shalva GADABADZE (AZE), 2-0  
Qualification: Oliver Adrian HASSLER (GER) df. Radoslaw Pawel GRZYBICKI (POL), 2-1  
Qualification: Erwin Jose CARABALLO (VEN) df. Spyridon KOUNTOURATZIS (GRE), 3-0  
Qualification: Artur ALEKSANYAN (ARM) df. Arslan SAPARMAMMEDOV (TKM) by TF, 10-1  
Qualification: Ghasem Gholamreza REZAEI (IRI) df. Carl Fredrik Stefan SCHON (SWE), 3-1  
Qualification: Hardeep SINGH (IND) df. Akira OSAKA (JPN), 4-1  
Qualification: Alin ALEXUC-CIURARIU (ROU) df. Daniel GASTL (AUT), 2-0  
Qualification: Aliaksandr HRABOVIK (BLR) df. Vilius LAURINAITIS (LTU) by TF, 11-0  
Qualification: Adam VARGA (HUN) df. Robert AVANISYAN (ISR), 3-0  

#WrestleBelgrade

Makhmudov returns to worlds final; Kayaalp-Mirzazadeh showdown at 130kg

By Vinay Siwach

BELGRADE, Serbia (September 21) -- World champion and Olympic silver medalist Akzhol MAKHMUDOV (KGZ) survived a big scare in the semifinal of the 77kg weight class as Nao KUSAKA (JPN) came within three points of stunning the Kyrgyz history maker.

Makhmudov survived to win 7-5 in a bout that saw Kusaka mount a comeback in the second period after trailing 7-1.

Kusaka got the first passivity advantage but failed to get any turn on Makhmudov who got a takedown using an arm spin and one turn to lead 4-1. In the second period, Kusaka was called passive and Makhmudov managed to turn him again to make it 7-1.

But as Makhmudov began to fade away, Kusaka scored two takedowns in one minute to make it 7-5. Makhmudov defended his two-point lead for the final 15 seconds to make it to the final.

"It makes me realize I am not so far from the world level," Kusaka said about his performance. "In the second period, the opponent was running out of gas. I just needed to get one more move. But there was fatigue from the tournament overall. I wanted to attack but I couldn't. I'm still a bit behind."

Kusaka still has a chance to qualify for the 2024 Paris Olympics if he wins a bronze medal on Friday.

"I will try to get what I have put everything in my life into," he said about qualifying for Paris. "It was disappointing [to lose today], but tomorrow I will regroup and definitely come out and win. Whether I lose in the first round or in the semifinal, if I don't get to the Olympics it's all for nothing."

Makhmudov will take on 2021 world silver medalist Sanan SULEYMANOV (AZE) for the gold medal. Suleymanov put on a big show to defeat European champion Malkhas AMOYAN (ARM) 5-0 as he got a big four-pointer in the second period to get the win.

Both Kyrgyzstan and Azerbaijan also won Paris Olympic spots, thanks to the wrestlers reaching the final at the World Championships.

At 130kg, Riza KAYAALP (TUR) will look to defend his gold against Amin MIRZAZADEH (IRI) in the final, a repeat from last year.

Kayaalp, a three-time Olympic champion, defeated Lingzhe MENG (CHN), 3-1 and earned a Paris spot for Turkiye. Kayaalp got the third passivity but Meng did not ask for par terre and Kayaalp remained unmoved to win 3-1.

Mirzazadeh defeated Oscar PINO HINDS (CUB), 1-1, in the other semifinal after the two traded passivities. He also earned a Paris quota for Iran and will now look to become a world champion over Kayaalp.

In the two non-Olympic weight classes in action on Thursday, Rafig HUSEYNOV (AZE) returned to the World Championships final after two years as he defeated defending champion Burhan AKBUDAK (TUR), 5-5, in a thrilling semifinal after a third passivity.

Huseynov had defeated Akbudak to win gold in 2021 but since has lost twice to Akbudak. He was trailing 5-0 in the semifinal but Huseynov, who received the par terre advantage in the second period managed to get exposure and two points to cut Akbudak's lead to 5-3.

Akbudak was called passive again with 1:10 on the clock and Huseynov was called for a leg foul when he was attempting a lift. Azerbaijan challenged and Akbudak was guilty of blocking. The caution and two points put Huseynov ahead 5-5 on criteria, a lead he defended till the end.

To win his second world gold medal, Huseynov will take on Alireza MOHMADIPIANI (IRI) who also won on a third passvity. Mihail BRADU (MDA) was leding 1-1 on criteria when he was called passive for the second time and Mohamadipiani got a huge bodylock for four to win 5-1.

At 55kg, defending world champion Eldaniz AZIZLI (AZE) set up a repeat final against Nugzari TSURTSUMIA (GEO).

Azizli got a 3-1 win over Poya DAD MARZ (IRI) while Tsurtsumia defeated Jasurbek ORTIKBOEV (UZB), 7-4, in what was a repeat of the quarterfinal from 2022 which the Georgian won 5-2.