#BudaWrestle2018

Taylor Tops World and Olympic Champion Yazdani, Makes Saturday's Semifinals

Saturday, October 20, 2018 - 13:21 By Eric Olanowski

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BUDAPEST, Hungary (October 20) – David TAYLOR (USA) stepped on the mat Saturday with no prior World Championship experience but certainly earned his stars and stripes on the opening day of freestyle action at the Papp Laszlo Sports Arena in Budapest, Hungary. 

In his world championship debut, the rookie was thrown into deep waters, as he was pegged against reigning world and Olympic champion Hassan YAZDANI (IRI) in his 86kg opening round bout. This was the second time Taylor and Yazdani have met, with Taylor coming out on top of their 2017 World Cup match. That fall by the American in 2017 was one of only four senior-level losses ever for the Iranian superstar. 

In the opening period, Taylor, the 2018 Pan-American champion, capitalized on an exposure, but not before giving up a pair of step outs, along with two takedowns. For the second time in as many matches against Yazdani, Taylor trailed heading into the final period. This time, it was a four-point deficit, as Taylor trailed 6-2.

Though he was in a four-point hole, “The Magic Man” didn’t panic and relied on his pace and conditioning to get back in the match. In the final three minutes, Taylor erupted to outscore the veteran 9-0 and ultimately won, 11-6. After the bout, the American coaches told Taylor “You grinded that one out. He just got too tired.” 

Taylor followed his opening round win with back-to-back 8-0 victories over Belarus’ Hajy RAJABAU and Cuba’s Yurieski TORREBLANCA QUERALTA (CUB). 

The 2018 Yarygin and Yasar Dogu winner will wrestle 2017 European gold medalist and this year’s Russian National champion, Dauren KURUGLIEV for a spot in tomorrow night’s finals.

The other 86kg semifinal match will feature Medved and Yasar Dogu bronze medalist, Fatih ERDIN (TUR), and Spain’s five-time world team representative Taimuraz FRIEV.

Zaurbek SIDAKOV will meet reigning world champion Frank Chamizo (ITA) in the 74kg semifinals after knocking off Olympic champion Jordan Burroughs (USA), 5-5 in the quarterfinals. (Photo: Gabor Martin) 

Meanwhile, Iran’s Parviz HADI and Russia’s Zaurbek SIDAKOV both knocked off Olympic champions on the way to their respective semifinals. 

In 74kg quarterfinals, Sidakov grabbed a step out point as time expired to defeat London Olympic champion, Jordan BURROUGHS (USA), 6-5. The 22-year-olds victory not only stopped the colossal third match-up between Burroughs and Italy’s two-time world champion Frank CHAMZIO, but it halted the four-time world champion from reaching his sixth world or Olympic finals. 

Sidakov will wrestle two-time world champion and Rio bronze medalist, Frank Chamizo for a spot in the 74kg finals.

In the 125kg quarterfinals, Parviz Hadi stunned Rio Olympic champion and 2017 world runner-up, Taha AKGUL (TUR) with a late takedown, stealing the match, 3-2. The 30-year-old Iranian stopped Akgul from making his fifth straight world or Olympic gold-medal bout.

In the semifinals, Hadi will compete against the reigning world champion, Geno PETRIASHVILI (GEO) for a spot in tomorrow's 125kg world final.

In addition to 74kg, 86kg, and 125kg, 61kg is also featured in tonight’s semifinals.

The 61kg semifinals will host three world medalists, Yowlys BONNE RODRIGUEZ (CUB), Beka LOMTADZE (GEO), and Gadzhimurad RASHIDOV (RUS).

Both Lomtadze (2016) and Rashidov (2017) have made it to a world final, while Bonne has finished with a bronze medal twice (2014 and 2017).

The top half matchup between Rashidov and Lomtadze is a rematch of the 2018 European finals, where the Russian wrestler came on top, 4-1. The bottom half matchup will pit America’s rookie Joseph COLON (USA) against Cuba's "Big Move Bonne" Rodriguez. 

Friday nights semifinals are set to begin at 16:45 (local time).

Semifinal Matchups 
61kg 
Gadzhimurad RASHIDOV (RUS) vs. Beka LOMTADZE (GEO)
Yowlys BONNE RODRIGUEZ (CUB) vs. Joseph Daniel COLON (USA)

74kg 
Soner DEMIRTAS (TUR) vs. Avtandil KENTCHADZE (GEO) 
Zaurbek SIDAKOV (RUS) vs. Frank CHAMIZO MARQUEZ (ITA)

86kg 
Dauren KURUGLIEV (RUS) vs. David Morris TAYLOR III (USA) 
Fatih ERDIN (TUR) vs. Taimuraz FRIEV (ESP)

125kg 
Geno PETRIASHVILI (GEO) vs. Parviz HADI (IRI)
Zhiwei DENG (CHN) vs.  Sumit SUMIT (IND)

Development

United World Wrestling's Commitment: Empowering Athletes and Coaches for the Paris Olympics

Monday, July 22, 2024 - 19:17 By United World Wrestling Press

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CORSIER-SUR-VEVEY, Switzerland (July 22) -- In a remarkable demonstration of dedication and support for athletes, United World Wrestling (UWW) has played an important role in helping athletes qualify for the upcoming Paris Olympic Games. Thanks to the collaborative efforts of Olympic Solidarity, National Olympic Committees (NOCs), and UWW Development, a total of 213 athletes and coaches benefited from the UWW Technical Assistance for the continental qualifiers and participated in acclimatization camps ahead of the continental qualifiers for the Paris Olympics.

In total, over 200,000 CHF has been invested globally in helping athletes qualify for the Games via continental qualifiers. This substantial financial commitment underscores UWW's unwavering dedication to nurturing wrestling talent and fostering elite-level development of the sport worldwide.

Athletes Qualified for the Paris Olympic Games
The result of this concerted effort has been outstanding, with 9 athletes under UWW financial support from 4 different nations successfully qualifying for the Paris Olympic Games.

The following athletes have secured their spots at the Paris Olympic Games via the continental qualifiers:

  • Chaimaa Fouzia Aouissi (ALG)
  • Bacar Ndum (GBS)
  • Diamantino Iuna Fafe (GBS)
  • Oussama Assad (MAR)
  • Gaku Akazawa (SAM)
  • Tayla Tuahine Ford (NZL)
  • Genesis Rosangela Reasco Valdez (ECU)
  • Darian Toi Ruz (PUR)
  • Ethan Adrian Ramos (PUR)

In addition, last year, through UWW Technical Assistance provided during the Senior World Championships (1st phase of the Paris OG qualifier), 3 athletes secured their qualification for the Paris Olympic Games. These athletes are:

  • Sebastian C Rivera (PUR)
  • Otgonjargal Dolgorjav (MGL)
  • Tatiana Renteria Renteria (COL)

In total 12 athletes benefited from the UWW financial support qualified spots for the Paris Olympic Games.

Refugee Athletes
With the support of Olympic Solidarity, the following refugee athletes have also qualified and will be part of the Refugee Olympic Team:

  • Iman MAHDAVI
  • Jamal VALIZADEH

Empowering Female Coaches at Elite Level
In addition to the athletes, the Olympic Solidarity and UWW Women in Sport High-Performance (WISH) program has made a significant advancement for gender equality in wrestling.

Three WISH program coaches attended the continental Olympic qualifiers:

  • Marwa Amri (TUN)
  • Carissa Holland (AUS)
  • Happiness Enugu Burutu (NGR)

This initiative marks a significant step forward for the sport of wrestling, contributing to the expansion of elite female coaches participating in high-level international competitions.

Safeguarding Athletes at Olympic Qualifiers
In alignment with IOC recommendations, United World Wrestling (UWW) has taken proactive measures to safeguard athletes participating in championships and Olympic Qualifiers. Dedicated staff members have been stationed at these events to provide vigilant oversight and ensure athletes' safety, protecting them from any form of harassment or abuse.

UWW's steadfast commitment to athlete welfare extends beyond competition success, prioritizing their well-being and creating a secure environment conducive to athletic excellence. By implementing these measures, UWW upholds the principles of fairness, respect, and integrity, fostering a culture where athletes can thrive and pursue their Olympic aspirations, reinforcing the organization's role as a guardian of athlete rights and dignity on the global stage.

United World Wrestling's comprehensive support system, encompassing financial aid, technical assistance, and development programs, has been crucial in helping athletes and coaches achieve their dreams of qualifying for the Paris Olympic Games. This initiative not only highlights the global reach and impact of UWW but also underscores its commitment to fostering talent and promoting gender equality and inclusion in the sport of wrestling. As the countdown to the Paris Olympic Games continues, the success stories of these athletes and coaches will undoubtedly inspire future generations of wrestlers worldwide.