#Trnava2018

Three Reigning World Champs Make Tuesday Night’s Semifinals

Tuesday, September 18, 2018 - 13:58 By Eric Olanowski

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TRNAVA, Slovakia (September 18) - Reigning junior world champions Kerem KAMAL (TUR), Amin KAVIYANINEJAD (IRI), and Aleksandr KOMAROV (RUS) all moved into Tuesday night’s Trnava Greco-Roman semifinals. 

A noticeably larger Kamal, up from his 2017 World Championship weight of 55kg made the 60kg semifinals with three wins on Tuesday morning.

He only surrendered one point in his first two matches before edging junior European bronze medalist, Ararat MANUCHARYAN (ARM), 5-3 to make the semifinals. 

In the semifinals, Karem will see three-time world representative, Razvan ARNAUT (ROU).  

 Reigning world champion, Amin KAVIYANINEJAD (IRI). Photo Max Rose-Fyne. 

Meanwhile, the second reigning world champion Amin Kaviyaninejad barely broke a sweat, cruising to the 72kg semifinals while outscoring his opponents 25-0. 

He’ll wrestle Russia’s three-time world team representative Magomed YARBILOV for a spot in tomorrow night’s finals. 

The third Tampere world champion to make Tuesday night's semifinals was three-time reigning world champion, Aleksandr Komarov. 

Komarov shutout his first two opponents 18-0, including a 10-0 win over reigning cadet world finalist Istvan TAKACS (HUN) before moving into the quarterfinals. 

In the quarterfinals, Komarov narrowly squeaked past Iran’s Hosein FOROUZANDEH (IRI), 3-2. Komarov trailed 2-0 with less than 10 seconds left when Forouzandeh was penalized two points for a clear leg-foul. The Iranian coaches challenged the call and lost, giving Komarov his third point, and the 3-2 victory. 

Komarov will meet Georgia's Aivengo RIKADZE on Tuesday night for a spot in his fourth straight age-level World Championship.

SEMIFINALS
60kg
Ali Reza Ayat Ollah NEJATI (IRI) vs. Vijay VIJAY (IND) 
Kerem KAMAL (TUR) vs. Razvan ARNAUT (ROU) 

67kg
Malkhas AMOYAN (ARM) vs. Ismail GUN (TUR) 
Makhmud BAKHSHILLOEV (UZB) vs. Mohamed ELSAYED (EGY) 

72kg
Magomed YARBILOV (RUS) vs. Amin Yavar KAVIYANINEJAD (IRI) 
Minto MAEDA (JPN) vs. Nikoloz TCHIKAIDZE (GEO) 

82kg
Aleksandr Andreevitch KOMAROV (RUS) vs. Aivengo RIKADZE (GEO) 
Muhutdin SARICICEK (TUR) vs. Andrew Douglas BERREYESA (USA) 

92kg
Markus RAGGINGER (AUT) vs. Balint VATZI (HUN) 
Arvi Martin SAVOLAINEN (FIN) vs. Illia LAURYNOVICH (BLR) 

#Trnava2018

Bey Likes Odds to Repeat as World Champion

Sunday, September 16, 2018 - 21:32 By Eric Olanowski

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TRNAVA, Slovakia (September 16) – For reigning world champion Kamal BEY (USA) to replicate his 2017 run to Junior World gold, he’ll have to navigate a bracket that returns every medalist from the 74kg Tampere World Championships. 

Bey, along with runner-up Akzhol MAKHMUDOV (KGZ) and bronze medalist Nasir HASANOV (AZE) drew into the bottom half of the bracket, while Sajan SAJAN (IND), the other bronze medalist, drew into the top half of the bracket. 

The way the draw played out, a potential Tampere World finals rematch between Bey and Makhmudov could happen as early as Monday night (18:00 local time). 


Kamal BEY (USA) and Akzhol MAKHMUDOV (KGZ) after the 2017 74kg gold-medal bout at the Tampere World Championships. (Photo by Marion Stein) 

When Bey was asked about the potential semifinal challenge of facing Makhmudov again, he said “It’s not that much of a challenge. People always want to challenge me, and I accept that challenge. He’s only bumping up for this tournament; then he’s going back down to 72kg for the Senior World Championships. …I’m in this for the long haul, and he’s just in this for one match.” 

He added, “This year, it’ll be about keeping the same pace and mentality, while not giving up as many points.” 

Whether it’s Makhudov, Hasanov, Sajan or the field, Bey feels that the improvements he's made over the last year have put himself in position to beat anyone on his way to repeating as Junior World champion. 

“Being a World champion is never given. Whoever stands in your way, you have to beat them regardless. It just about me going out there and taking care of my business.” 

Bey, along with the other returning medalists kick off the opening round of the 2018 Junior World Championships on Monday morning at 10:30 AM (local time).