#Zagreb2019

Starcevic Soars to Fifth Consecutive Zagreb Open Title

Sunday, February 10, 2019 - 19:09 By Eric Olanowski

ZAGREB, Croatia (February 10) – Bozo STARCEVIC remained patient in his hometown of Zagreb and waited until the last bout of the tournament, but the Croatian wrestler capped off his impressive run to a fifth consecutive Zagreb Open title with a tactical 2-1 victory over Turkey’s Yunus BASAR in the 77kg finals.

Starcevic, the hometown wrestler, grabbed the 1-0 lead after receiving a passivity point but found himself fighting back in the second period after Basar gained the 1-1 lead on criteria with a passivity point of his own.

With just over a minute left, the Croatian wrestler continued to push the pace and broke the 1-1 tie after he was awarded a second passivity point. Starcevic remained composed in the final 30 seconds and closed out the match with the 2-1 victory, locking up his fifth consecutive Zagreb Open title.

Starcevic's run to his fifth title also included a 6-1 quarterfinals win over Olympic champion KIM Hyeonwoo (KOR).

Bulgaria’s Daniel ALEKSANDROV erased a 7-0 deficit to defeat reigning world silver medalist Emrah KUS (TUR) in the 82kg gold-medal bout. (Photo Kadir Caliskan)

Two World Silver Medalists Go Down

Bulgaria’s Daniel ALEKSANDROV and Russia’s Ilia BORISOV knocked off reigning world runner-up’s Emrah KUS (TUR) and Kiril MILOV (BUL) respectively to with their first Zagreb Open titles.

Daniel Aleksandrov erased a 7-0 opening-period deficit and scored eight unanswered points in the final period to upend returning world runner-up Emrah KUS (TUR), 8-7, in the 82kg Zagreb Open gold-medal bout.

Aleksandrov trailed 7-0 after the first two minutes of action. He was dinged for passivity and thrown in par terre position, where Kus grabbed four-points from a reverse lift to control the 5-0 advantage. Aleksandrov found himself down 7-0 after Kus grabbed another two for exposure, but got on the board with a step out point and trailed 7-1 heading into the second period.

The Bulgarian exploded for seven points in the closing three minutes and hung on to the 8-7 lead to knock off the clearly deflated returning world runner-up, 8-7.

In the 97kg finals, Ilia Borisov also knocked off a returning Budapest world runner-up to win his Zagreb Open title. Borisov, the lone Russian finalist, tossed around returning world runner-up Kiril MILOV (BUL) with ease and scored the 9-0 technical superiority victory in the opening period.

Borisov grabbed the 1-0 lead after Milov was hit for passivity. The Russian went to work in par terre, throwing Milov for four points, then used a pair of gut wrenches to close out the 97kg gold-medal match with a 9-0 technical superiority victory.

Uzbekistan and Hungary Win Pair of Golds

Islomjon BAKHRAMOV and Elmurat TASMURADOV handed Uzbekistan a pair of gold medals, while Robert Attila FRITSCH (HUN) and Viktor LORINCZ (HUN) won Hungary's two Zagreb Open titles.

In the 63kg finals, Islomjon Bakhramov struck first with a four-point throw, but Xavier JOHNSON (USA) quickly scored a two-point exposure and cut the Uzbek's leads to 4-2. Bakhramov stayed offensive and scored a pair of takedowns and a gut wrench, ending the 63kg gold-medal match early with a 10-2 technical superiority victory.

Elmurat Tasmuradov gave Uzbekistan their second gold medal of the day. Tasmuradov came out on fire in the opening seconds of 67kg finals and threw a huge headlock to secure the 4-0 lead over U23 and senior-level European champion Mihai MIHUT (ROU). Tasmuradov surrendered a step out point to the Romanian wrestler, but his first-period four-point throw was enough to give him the 4-1 victory.

Robert Fritsch won Hungary's first gold medal of the night after Georgia's Ramaz ZOIDZE injury defaulted out of the 72kg finals.

At 87kg, Viktor Lorincz grabbed a passivity point and a low-level gut and took the 3-0 lead over Kristoffer Zakarias BERG (SWE) into the second period. Lorincz gave up a passivity point but didn’t get turned and held on to the 3-1 decision over Berg, giving Hungary their second gold medal of the night.

Kamal and Marvik Win Remaining Two Gold Medals

There wasn't a 55kg gold-medal bout because it was a round-robin competition, so the final two gold medals went to Turkey's Kerem KAMAL and Norway's Oskar MARVIK (NOR).

In the 60kg gold-medal bout, two-time junior world champion Kerem Kamal handled Iran’s Milad REZANEZHAD from whistle-to-whistle and scored his first senior-level gold medal with the 9-3 victory, while Oskar Marvik used a first-period passivity point to defeat Muminjon ABDULLAEV (UZB), 1-0, in the 130kg finals.

Results

Team Scores
GOLD - Turkey (132 points)
SILVER - Uzbekistan (101 points)
BRONZE - Croatia (91 points)
Fourth - Bulgaria (85 points)
Fifth - Hungary (83 points)

55kg (Round-Robin)
GOLD - Poya Soulat DAD MARZ (IRI)
SILVER - Ekrem OZTURK (TUR)
BRONZE - Alexandru Vasile BOTEZ (ROU)

60kg
GOLD - Kerem KAMAL (TUR) df. Milad Ali REZANEZHAD (IRI), 9-3

BRONZE - Erik TORBA (HUN) df. Virgil MUNTEANU (ROU), 3-3
BRONZE - Ivan LIZATOVIC (CRO) df. Seunghak KIM (KOR), 4-3

63kg
GOLD - Islomjon BAKHRAMOV (UZB) df. Xavier JOHNSON (USA), 10-2

BRONZE - Dawid Andrzej ERSETIC (POL) df. Irakli DZIMISTARISHVILI (GEO), 12-0
BRONZE - Firuz TUKHTAEV (UZB) df. Travis Michael RICE (USA), 9-0

67kg
GOLD - Elmurat TASMURADOV (UZB) df. Mihai Radu MIHUT (ROU), 4-1

BRONZE - Enes BASAR (TUR) df. Morten THORESEN (NOR), 9-0
BRONZE - Ignazio SANFILIPPO (ITA) df. Danijel JANECIC (CRO), via injury default

72kg
GOLD - Robert Attila FRITSCH (HUN) df. Ramaz ZOIDZE (GEO), via injury default

BRONZE - Aik MNATSAKANIAN (BUL) df. Cengiz ARSLAN (TUR), 3-1
BRONZE - Mateusz Lucjan BERNATEK (POL) df. Mate NEMES (SRB), 3-1

77kg
GOLD - Bozo STARCEVIC (CRO) df. Yunus BASAR (TUR), 2-1

BRONZE - Mohammad Aziz NAGHOUSI (IRI) df. Ilie COJOCARI (ROU), 7-4
BRONZE - Hyeonwoo KIM (KOR) df. Rafael IUNUSOV (RUS), 10-0

82kg
GOLD - Daniel ALEKSANDROV (BUL) df. Emrah KUS (TUR), 8-7

BRONZE - Burhan AKBUDAK (TUR) df. Jalgasbay BERDIMURATOV (UZB), 2-1
BRONZE - Karlo KODRIC (CRO) df. Aivengo RIKADZE (GEO), via injury default

87kg
GOLD - Viktor LORINCZ (HUN) df. Kristoffer Zakarias BERG (SWE), 3-1

BRONZE - Tadeusz MICHALIK (POL) df. Yoan Danielov DIMITROV (BUL), 6-3
BRONZE - Arkadiusz Marcin KULYNYCZ (POL) df. Erik SZILVASSY (HUN), 4-3

97kg
GOLD - Ilia BORISOV (RUS) df. Kiril Milenov MILOV (BUL), 9-0

BRONZE - Jahongir TURDIEV (UZB) df. Zsolt TOEROEK (HUN), 11-0
BRONZE - Tracy Gangelo HANCOCK (USA) df. Adam VARGA (HUN), 4-0

130kg
GOLD - Oskar MARVIK (NOR) df. Muminjon ABDULLAEV (UZB) , 1-0

BRONZE - Yasmani ACOSTA FERNANDEZ (CHI) df. Osman YILDIRIM (TUR), 5-1
BRONZE - Miloslav Yuriev METODIEV (BUL) df. Marko KOSCEVIC (CRO), 5-1

#WrestleBaku

Murtazaliev defends U23 European gold; Azerbaijan wins Greco team title

Wednesday, May 22, 2024 - 19:29 By United World Wrestling Press

BAKU, Azerbaijan (May 22) -- Magomed MURTAZALIEV (AIN) fell on his knees. Abubakar KHASLAKHANAU (AIN) looked around in a daze, his hands on the back of his head. Both breathing heavily, both barely able to walk any extra step than needed.

This was a fight for the gold medal between the two giants of the Greco-Roman 97kg category. Murtazaliev, a senior European Championship silver medallist and defending champion of the U23 continental tournament but missing out on a Paris Olympics spot. Khaslakhanau, a senior European bronze medallist, looking for his maiden U23 title, which would have been a perfect boost for his Olympic preparations.

After grueling six minutes, which tested the strength and stamina of both wrestlers to the limit, it was Murtazaliev who finished on top. The 23-year-old defeated Khaslakhanau 4-1 to defend his title here in Baku.

Magomed MURTAZALIEV (AIN) defends a throw from Abubakar KHASLAKHANAU (AIN) in the 97kg Greco-Roman final. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kadir Caliskan)

Murtazaliev made all the early moves, using an underhook in search for a proper grip over Khaslakhanau. Shortly after one minute, the Paris Olympics-bound wrestler was penalized for passivity. Murtazaliev got a point for that and then used a strong gut-wrench for two points despite some exceptional defense from his opponent.

Khaslakhanau had his moments including the par terre in the second period. He completed a throw but Murtazaliev did not land in danger, forcing Khaslakhanau to challenge but to no avail. Murtazaliev used all his might to defend his 4-1 lead and ensure he ended the evening with a gold medal hanging around his neck.

Murtazaliev and Khaslakhanau embraced each other after the end of the bout when they left the mat. But it was the home wrestlers that celebrated the most as Azerbaijan won the team title with 163 points. Georgia finished second with 138 points and Turkiye was third with 135 points.

Gurban GURBANOV (AZE) celebrates after winning the 82kg gold medal in Baku. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Jake Kirkman)

The major contribution to Azerbaijan’s team title came from Gurban GURBANOV (AZE), who beat Islam ALIEV (AIN) 8-2 in an action-packed bout to win his second successive title.

But the scoreline hardly captures the drama that unfolded.

Only 30 seconds into the bout, Gurbanov requested a challenge, accusing Aliev of blocking using his hands on legs. The challenge was upheld and Aliev was cautioned, with the defending champion awarded two points.

That, however, was only the beginning. A minute later, Gurbanov had the par terre advantage, sending the home crowd into a frenzy. Those in the stands had more to cheer for after Gurbanov used a high gut to turn Aliev and extend his lead to 5-1.

Desperate to reduce his deficit, Aliev threw the kitchen sink at his rival. He got the par terre but failed to score and even asked for a challenge for blocking by Gurbanov only to see him lose one more point for a lost challenge. Just then, however, things started to get heated. A minute into the second round, Gurbanov alleged that Aliev pushed him out of the mat – and over the podium. The momentum carried the home favorite behind the judge’s table and as he walked back onto the mat, he held his left leg and looked in some discomfort.

After a stepout, Aliev head-butted Gurbanov with 1:33 left on the clock. He was awarded two points for dangerous play as Aliev received another caution.

The penalty points combined gave Gurbanov enough cushion to defend his lead in the closing moments and although Aliev did not give up, it was too big a gap to close down. Amidst a din, Gurbanov draped his country’s flag around his shoulders and took a lap of honor.

Mert ILBARS (TUR), behind, scored the match-winning stepout against Nihad GULUZADE (AZE) from this position. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Jake Kirkman)

Azerbaijan very nearly celebrated a second gold medal of the night. However, Nihad GULUZADE (AZE) came up agonizingly short against Mert ILBARS (TUR) in the 60kg final, losing 2-1.

Both wrestlers produced strong defensive performances, but the bout was anything but defensive. Guluzade, in particular, would leave the tournament with a feeling of ‘what if’. After the two wrestlers exchanged points for par terre with Ilbars leading 1-1 on criteria, Guluzade got the third par terre position late in the bout. The third call only offers position advantage and no points but Ilbars didn’t allow his opponent a proper grip and instead forced a remarkable turnaround to get into an attacking position and score a point from a push out.

For the rest of the bout, Ilbars defended as if his life depended on it and came out on top by the narrowest of margins.

Giorgi CHKHIKVADZE (GEO) celebrates after winning the 72kg gold medal. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kadir Caliskan)

Meanwhile, Giorgi CHKHIKVADZE (GEO) beat Vilius SAVICKAS (LTU) 8-0 to win the gold medal in the 72kg category and add a second U23 European title. That win propelled Georgia over Turkiye in the team title race.

Turkiye could have finished second had Azat SARIYAR (TUR) won the 67kg 67kg final. Instead, Daniial AGAEV (AIN) rolled to an 11-1 technical superiority win to capture the gold at 67kg.

Defending champion Jonna MALMGREN (SWE) reached the 55kg final. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kadir Caliskan)

Malmgren on course to defend her title

Women’s wrestling star Jonna MALMGREN (SWE) stayed on course to winning her second consecutive U23 title after she reached the 55 kg category final.

Malmgren, one of the contenders for the Paris Olympics, was the odds-on favorite to defend her crown in Baku and it didn’t take long to understand why. The two-time senior European champion, who added a silver this year, was dominant in all her bouts, scoring 22 points and conceding just two.

The 22-year-old Swede will face Mariia VYNNYK (UKR), who has already improved on her performance from last year’s continental championship but will be hoping for a top-of-the-podium finish, which would also be her best-ever performance.

Vynnyk will be one of the three Ukrainian wrestlers who will have a shot at the gold medal on Thursday. In 68kg, Manola SKOBELSKA (UKR) will take on Elizaveta PETLIAKOVA (AIN) in the title round whereas Mariia ORLEVYCH (UKR) will face Laura KUEHN (GER) in the 76kg final.

RESULTS

60kg
GOLD: Mert ILBARS (TUR) df. Nihad GULUZADE (AZE), 2-1

BRONZE: Dinislam BAMMATOV (AIN) df. Olivier SKRZYPCZAK (POL), 6-3
BRONZE: Melkamu FETENE (ISR) df. Georgios SCARPELLO (GER), 4-3

67kg
GOLD: Daniial AGAEV (AIN) df. Azat SARIYAR (TUR), 11-1

BRONZE: Oleg KHALILOV (UKR) df. Yanis GUENDEZ NIFRI (FRA), 2-2
BRONZE: Diego CHKHIKVADZE (GEO) df. Dimitar GEORGIEV (BUL), 9-1

72kg
GOLD: Giorgi CHKHIKVADZE (GEO) df. Vilius SAVICKAS (LTU), 8-0

BRONZE: Ruslan NURULLAYEV (AZE) df. Petar GORNYASHKI (BUL), 7-4
BRONZE: Vasile ZABICA (MDA) df. Giovanni ALESSIO (ITA), 5-4

82kg
GOLD: Gurban GURBANOV (AZE) df. Islam ALIEV (AIN), 8-2

BRONZE: Deni NAKAEV (GER) df. Alexandru SOLOVEI (MDA), 4-1
BRONZE: Vladimeri KARCHAIDZE (FRA) df. Leon RIVALTA (ITA), via fall (11-4)

97kg
GOLD: Magomed MURTAZALIEV (AIN) df. Abubakar KHASLAKHANAU (AIN), 4-1

BRONZE: Murad AHMADIYEV (AZE) df. Aapo VIITALA (FIN), 11-0
BRONZE: Anton VIEWEG (GER) df. Luka KATIC (SRB), 3-1

Women's Wrestling Semifinals

50kg
GOLD: Natallia VARAKINA (AIN) vs. Zehra DEMIRHAN (TUR)

SF 1: Natallia VARAKINA (AIN) df. Ana PIRVU (ROU), 10-0
SF 2: Zehra DEMIRHAN (TUR) df. Gabija DILYTE (LTU), 6-4

55kg
GOLD: Mariia VYNNYK (UKR) vs. Jonna MALMGREN (SWE)

SF 1: Jonna MALMGREN (SWE) df. Mihaela SAMOIL (MDA), via fall (8-0)
SF 2: Mariia VYNNYK (UKR) df. Aliaksandra BULAVA (AIN), 11-0

59kg
GOLD: Anastasiia SIDELNIKOVA (AIN) vs. Alesia HETMANAVA (AIN)

SF 1: Alesia HETMANAVA (AIN) df. Ana Maria PUIU (ROU), 11-0
SF 2: Anastasiia SIDELNIKOVA (AIN) df. Sevim AKBAS (TUR), 5-1

68kg
GOLD: Manola SKOBELSKA (UKR) vs. Elizaveta PETLIAKOVA (AIN)

SF 1: Elizaveta PETLIAKOVA (AIN) df. Sophia SCHAEFLE (GER), via fall (6-0)
SF 2: Manola SKOBELSKA (UKR) df. Karolina POK (HUN), 2-0

76kg
GOLD: Laura KUEHN (GER) vs. Mariia ORLEVYCH (UKR)

SF 1: Mariia ORLEVYCH (UKR) df. Nazar BATIR (TUR), 3-2
SF 2: Laura KUEHN (GER) df. Olga KOZYREVA (AIN), 9-8

Starcevic Soars to Fifth Consecutive Zagreb Open Title

Comments

Murtazaliev defends U23 European gold; Azerbaijan wins Greco team title