U23 World C'ships

Szilvassy Wins Second Title, Turkey Bags Three Medals

By Taylor Miller

BYDGOSZCZ, Poland – Turkey claimed a gold and two bronze medals and Hungary’s Erik SZILVASSY won his second World championship in the first day of U23 World Championships in Bydgoszcz, Poland.

2016 University World champion Szvilassy won the World title at 85 kg, defeating Ivan HUKLEK (CRO) in the finals with a 4-0 win, highlighted by a first-period throw. The Hungarian controlled the match from there for his second world title in two years.

At 75 kg, Fatih CENGIZ (TUR) put an exclamation point on an impressive tournament, picking up a decisive 5-2 win in the gold-medal finals against Gela BOLKVADZE (GEO).

The match was tied, 1-1, at the break in favor of the Turkish wrestler. He pulled away in the second period, when Bolkvadze was hit with caution and two on the edge of the mat. Cengiz went on to win a 5-2 decision.

Other medalists from Turkey include bronze medalists Murat DAG at 71 kg and Fatih BASKOY at 98 kg.

Daniel CATARAGA (MDA), a past World silver medalist, handily won the 71 kg with a 5-0 win over Grand Prix of Paris winner Robert FRITSCH (HUN).

Overall, 11 countries won medals on the first day, including Azerbaijan, China, Croatia, Finland, Georgia, Hungary, Iran, Kyrgyzstan, Moldova, Russia and Turkey.

GOLD MEDAL MATCHES
71 kg: Daniel CATARAGA (MDA) dec. Robert FRITSCH (HUN), 5-0
75 kg: Fatih CENGIZ (TUR) dec. Gela BOLKVADZE (GEO), 5-2
85 kg: Erik SZILVASSY (HUN) dec. Ivan HUKLEK (CRO), 4-0
98 kg: Aleksandr GOLOVIN (RUS) dec. Matti KUOSMANEN (FIN), 5-3

BRONZE MEDAL MATCHES
71 kg
Murat DAG (TUR) dec. Rinat AKHMEDOV (RUS), 2-1
Farshad Mirahmad BELFAKEH (IRI) dec. Riccardo Vito ABBRESCIA (ITA), 2-1

75 kg
Esen Asanov (KGZ) dec. Nasir HASANOV (AZE), 1-0
Payam Abdeh Saleh BOVEYRI PAYANI (IRI) dec. Miras BARSHYLYKOV (KAZ), 6-2

85 kg
Islam ABBASOV (AZE) dec. Gurami KHETSURIANI (GEO), 2-1
Toni Heikki Herman METSOMAEKI (FIN) won by injury default Ruslan MAHOMEDOV (UKR)

98 kg
Abudourexiti ALIMUJIANG (CHN) dec. Bopembe Arsen SYCHEV (BLR), 3-0
Fatih BASKOY (TUR) dec. Michail IOSIFIDIS (GRE), 4-2

 

#BeachWrestling

Beach Wrestling: Ukraine, U.S. best at U17 World Championships

By United World Wrestling Press

KATERINI, Greece (September 21) -- Ukraine and the United States emerged as the best teams at the Beach Wrestling World Championships at the U17 level in the men's and women's categories respectively.

The U17 and U20 World Championships was held in Katerini over eight weight classes in men's and women's categories. Ukraine won the men's part while the U.S. claimed the team title in women's despite not winning a gold medal in four weight classes.

Romania won two gold medals in the men's U17 with Lucian SOMANDRU (ROU) beating Christos XENAKIS (GRE), 3-0, in the 50kg final and Magor LORINCZ (ROU), who had finished ninth last year, dominated Yurii PYHULSKYI (UKR) in the 80kg, winning the gold medal 5-0.

The two other gold medals were won by Mirzakhan GASHYMOV (UKR) and Anri GOGUADZE (GEO) at 60kg and 70kg respectively.

Gashymov was the gold medalist as Ukraine swept the podium, winning the silver and bronze medals as well. He defeated Nazar VELINSKYI (UKR), 4-1, in the final.

Goguadze also faced compatriot Koba GOGUADZE (GEO) in the 70kg final and won the final via superiority.

Ukraine finished with 72 points to finish first with Romania second with 56 points. Georgia was third with 49 points.

The team title race was closer in women's as the U.S. finished first with 60 points with three silver medals. France, with two gold medals, managed to finish with 50 points and at the second spot. Ukraine was third with 39 points.

The 40kg weight class saw only two participants with Alexandra COVACI (ROU) beating Alina MACI (ROU), 3-1, in the final. Romania only got 25 team ranking points for the gold medal.

France won the gold medals at 60kg and 70kg. Thea ROUSSEL (FRA) defeated Kennedie SNOW (USA), 4-0, in the 60kg final to deny the U.S. a gold medal. A few minutes later, Lise LANDOUZY (FRA) defeated Piper ZATECHKA (USA), 3-0, in the 70kg final to give France a second gold.

The U.S. also had a finalist at 50kg but Reisa KOJIMA (JPN) dominated the final to beat Jayden KELLER (USA), 4-1, to win a gold medal for Japan as well.

RESULTS

U17 Men's BW

50kg
GOLD: Lucian SOMANDRU (ROU) df. Christos XENAKIS (GRE), 3-0

BRONZE: Stanislav DIACONU (MDA) df. Oleksandr KARA (UKR), 3-1

60kg
GOLD: Mirzakhan GASHYMOV (UKR) df. Nazar VELINSKYI (UKR), 4-1

BRONZE: Stepan MINCHEV (UKR) df. Benjamin GRAHAM (USA), via fall

70kg
GOLD: Anri GOGUADZE (GEO) df. Koba GOGUADZE (GEO), 4-1

BRONZE: Dmytro KURSENKO (UKR) df. Dmytro YEMETS (UKR), 3-2

80kg
GOLD: Magor LORINCZ (ROU) df. Yurii PYHULSKYI (UKR), 5-0

BRONZE: Charilaos CHAITIDIS (GRE) df. Andrii PAVLIUK (UKR), 4-2

U17 Women's BW

40kg
GOLD: Alexandra COVACI (ROU) df. Alina MACI (ROU), 3-1

50kg
GOLD: Reisa KOJIMA (JPN) df. Jayden KELLER (USA), 4-1

BRONZE: Oleksandra KARBOVSKA (UKR) df. Sarina GUNN (USA), 3-0

60kg
GOLD: Thea ROUSSEL (FRA) df. Kennedie SNOW (USA), 4-0

BRONZE: Georgia CHASAMPALIOTI (GRE) df. Alina SVIRKO (UKR), 4-2

70kg
GOLD: Lise LANDOUZY (FRA) df. Piper ZATECHKA (USA), 3-0

BRONZE: Sadie EVANS (USA) df. Anna NITSEVYCH (UKR), 4-0