#WrestleIstanbul

U17 Worlds: AIN, India put 2 wrestlers each in Greco finals

Monday, July 31, 2023 - 17:34 By Vinay Siwach

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ISTANBUL (July 31) -- Team Individual Neutral Athletes (AIN) and India put two wrestlers each in the Greco-Roman finals on day one of the U17 World Championships in Istanbul on Monday.

Six other nations managed a finalist each including host nation Turkiye which has 110kg defending champion Cemal BAKIR (TUR) going for back-to-back gold medals.

For India, SURAJ (IND), who became the country's first Greco-Roman world U17 champion in 32 years, made it to his second straight final, this time at 55kg. RONAK (IND) joined him at 110kg and the U17 Asia silver medalist will try to upset home favorite Bakir on Tuesday.

AIN rode on Zaur BESLEKOEV (AIN) and Mikhail SHKARIN (AIN) who made it to the gold medal bouts at 65kg and 80kg respectively.

Shakhzod RUZIOKHUNOV (UZB)Shakhzod RUZIOKHUNOV (UZB) defeated Edgar PETROSYAN (ARM) 4-1 in the semifinal. (Photo: UWW / Kadir Caliskan)

Defending team champions Iran put one finalist at 48kg as Payam AHMADI BALOOTKI (IRI), who was a bronze medalist at 45kg last year, made it to the final against Shakhzod RUZIOKHUNOV (UZB) who is a silver medalist at 45kg from last year.

Balootki will be extremely pleased with his performance as he handed U17 European champion Murat KHATIT (AIN) a 3-2 loss to enter the final. Ruziokhunov was clearly the better wrestler against Edgar PETROSYAN (ARM) who suffered a 4-1 loss.

SURAJ (IND)Returning world champion SURAJ (IND) reached the 55kg final after beating Halil CANIR (TUR) in the semifinal. (Photo: UWW / Kadir Caliskan)

At 55kg, Suraj was on track for a U17 Asia final rematch against Mohammadreza GHOLAMI (IRI) as both reached their respective semifinals. However, Ghomali suffered a heartbreaking loss to Jordyn RANEY (USA).

Ghomali led 5-1 with less than 20 seconds on the clock when Raney got a headlock for four, giving the US wrestlers a 5-5 criteria lead. Raney and Gholami exchanged danger positions in the following sequence but it was Raney's which was last, earning him a 7-7 win. A lost challenge from Iran made it 8-7.

Suraj, banking on his experience from last year's gold-medal run, blanked home wrestler Halil CANIR (TUR) in the other semifinal, using a correct throw and his trademark arm throw to win 6-0.

Yusif AHMADLI (AZE)Yusif AHMADLI (AZE), blue, will face Zaur BESLEKOEV (AIN) in the 65kg final. (Photo: UWW / Kadir Caliskan)

Beslekoev will face Yusif AHMADLI (AZE) in the 65kg final after he defeated Giorgi TCHIKAIDZE (GEO) 5-1 in the semifinal. Tchikaidze was giving the first advantage when Beslekoev was called passive. But the Georgian failed to get any turn from par terre. Beslekoev managed to score a takedown before the break to lead 2-1.

When Tchikaidze was called passive in the second period, Beslekoev managed to get a turn from par terre and score a 5-1 victory.

Ahmadli was up against Islambek KARIMJONOV (UZB) for a place in the final and the bout was even poised when the wrestlers exchanged four-point throws. But Ahmadli got a headlock for four and added two turns to make it 12-4 and claim the victory.

At 80kg, Shkarin toyed around with Eleftherios PAPPAS (GRE) in the semifinal and won 9-0 to book a place in the final. He was awarded the passivity in the first period and managed to turn Pappas twice before launching a perfect throw for four.

Taizo YOSHIDA (JPN)Taizo YOSHIDA (JPN) reached the 80kg final after beating Uladzislau DUBROUSKI (AIN). (Photo: UWW / Kadir Caliskan)

He will face Taizo YOSHIDA (JPN) in the final after the Japanese wrestler stopped Uladzislau DUBROUSKI (AIN) in the semifinal. Yoshida began the bout with a four as he drove Dubrouski toward danger before throwing him back first. The AIN team challenged the call but lost, giving Yoshida a 5-0 lead.

A headlock attempt from Dubrouski did not yield any points but gave Yoshida two points as the Japanese used a gut wrench to turn Dubrouski, who managed to pull things back a little when a bearhug ended in a correct throw for two points.

Yoshida, however, kept the pressure in the second period and scored a stepout to lead 8-2 and then added another to make it 9-2. He clinched the victory with another stepout.

Camil BAKIR (TUR)Camil BAKIR (TUR) reached second straight U17 Worlds final after beating U17 Asia champion Amirhossein ABDEVALI (IRI). (Photo: UWW / Kadir Caliskan)

Bakir, with his hometown's support behind him, rallied to beat U17 Asia champion Amirhossein ABDEVALI (IRI) 4-2 in a heated semifinal. The defending champion scored a hard-fought turn from par terre to lead 3-0 at the break before defending when he was put in par terre.

Iran challenged for a block from Bakir but lost the challenge which added another point to Bakir's score to make it 4-1.

Abdevali had Bakir in danger for a second when he wrapped his around his waist and was about to launch him for a big throw. However, Bakir managed to keep his feet on the mat and gave up only a stepout as the score changed to 4-2. He defended his two-point lead to claim a victory over Abdevalo, one of the five brothers.

He will now face U17 Asia silver Ronak who impressed in a 6-3 victory over Eldar EMIROV (AIN) in the other semifinal. He was behind 3-0 after Emirov scored a turn from par terre.

Ronak need a turn from par terre against Emirov in the second period and he did exactly that. He scored two gut wrenches over Emirov to make it 5-3 in his favor. He survived a score when he tried throwing Emirov in the final two seconds but fell on his back. Emirov challenged for two points but it was clear on review that the time had expired, giving Ronak a 6-3 win.

 

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RESULTS

48kg
GOLD: Shakhzod RUZIOKHUNOV (UZB) vs. Payam AHMADI BALOOTAKI (IRI)

SF 1: Shakhzod RUZIOKHUNOV (UZB) df. Edgar PETROSYAN (ARM), 4-1
SF 2: Payam AHMADI BALOOTAKI (IRI) df. Murat KHATIT (AIN), 3-2

55kg
GOLD: SURAJ (IND) vs. Jordyn RANEY (USA)

SF 1: SURAJ (IND) df. Halil CINAR (TUR), 6-0
SF 2: Jordyn RANEY (USA) df. Mohammadreza GHOLAMI (IRI), 8-7

65kg
GOLD: Yusif AHMADLI (AZE) vs. Zaur BESLEKOEV (AIN)

SF 1: Yusif AHMADLI (AZE) df. Islombek KARIMJONOV (UZB), 12-4
SF 2: Zaur BESLEKOEV (AIN) df. Giorgi TCHIKAIDZE (GEO), 5-1

80kg
GOLD: Mikhail SHKARIN (AIN) vs. Taizo YOSHIDA (JPN)

SF 1: Mikhail SHKARIN (AIN) df. Eleftherios PAPPAS (GRE), 9-0
SF 2: Taizo YOSHIDA (JPN) df. Uladzislau DUBROUSKI (AIN), 10-2

110kg
GOLD: RONAK (IND) vs. Cemal BAKIR (TUR)

SF 1: RONAK (IND) df. Eldar EMIROV (AIN), 6-3
SF 2: Cemal BAKIR (TUR) df. Amirhossein ABDEVALI (IRI), 4-2

#BeachWrestling

Dakar to Mexico, Beach Wrestling Hits the Right Notes in 2024

Friday, December 6, 2024 - 12:32 By Vinay Siwach

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CORSIER-SUR-VEVEY, Switzerland (December 6) -- In 2024, Beach Wrestling had a momentous year. From Dakar to Rio de Janeiro, there were championships and Games. And the World Series traveled from Mexico to Greece.

The second edition of the African Championships in Beach Wrestling was held in Dakar, Senegal in June. Dakar will host the 2026 Youth Olympic Games with Beach Wrestling being one of the main sports. The city also hosted the Beach Sports Festival.

Apart from the Dakar event, the Beach Wrestling calendar was packed with international tournaments, thanks to UWW's efforts to develop the sport.

The Beach Wrestling Committee also made a few changes to the sport, bringing in the challenge and the activity clock from 2024. This meant that two additional ways to get one point in Beach Wrestling were added: if a wrestler has been called passive and fails to score points during the 30-second activity period, his opponent will receive a point, and the wrestler whose opponent requested a challenge and the challenge is unsuccessful will receive a point.

Each wrestler is entitled to at least two unsuccessful challenges per event — one during the group stage and eliminations and another during the medal match.

For the first time, the Pan-Am Championships were held in the U15, U17, U20 and U23 age-groups. The U15 event was held in El Salvador and Mexico dominated the tournament by winning the title in both men's and women's events. The U17 event was in Dominican Republic with Ecuador winning the men's title and Puerto Rico winning the women's title.

At the U20 Pan-Ams in Peru, Ecuador continued its dominance with the men's title while Mexico bounced back and won the women's title. In Colombia for the U23 event, the hosts won both the men's and women's team titles.

Similarly, the European Championships in the U15, U17 and U20 age groups were held in Romania, a country which has taken keenly to the sport. Romania was so dominant in the competitions that it won the men's and women's team titles in five of the six categories. Only the U20 men's team title was won by Moldova.

UWW's commitment to growing the sport saw a new country host a Beach Wrestling event in Dakar. The African Championships were attended by over 100 wrestlers with the competition going over two days. Hosts Senegal emerged as the best country in both men's and women's categories. It won three gold medals and one silver in each category, combining for eight medals in eight weight classes.

A documentary capturing the essence of Senegal, promoting culture and rich tradition in wrestling, was also produced by UWW.

The U17 World Championships in Beach Wrestling was held in Greece this year along with the World Championships in the U20 age group.

The United States, which has been promoting the sport extensively on the national level, won its first-ever world title as the women captured the team title in the U17 age-group, thanks to the three silver medals it won.

Ukraine emerged as the best team in men's, winning the title over Romania which won two gold medals. But Ukraine had a better performance overall and it pipped Romania for the top spot.

In U20, Moldova destroyed the field, winning three gold medals and the team title in men's while Ukraine made amends by winning the women's title, which it lost at the U17 level.

Beach Wrestling World Series

The fifth edition of the Beach Wrestling World Series saw a remarkable start in Mexico in March along with the Pan-Am Championships. The first stop saw Mexico on the board with two gold medals in the women's category. The men's was more scattered with the U.S., Guatemala, Argentina and Venezuela winning gold medals.

The second stop of the series travelled to a familiar Saint-Laurent-Du-Var which saw records tumbling. The highlight of the tournament was Moldova's growing stature in Beach Wrestling.

Two wrestlers -- Vasile DIACON (MDA) and Traian CAPATINA (MDA) -- won gold medals. Diacon ultimately emerged as the best 80kg wrestler in the world and secured first place in the final rankings. Capatina was second in the final rankings in 90kg.

Romania hosted the third spot and the battle between the hosts and Ukraine in the women's category lived up to expectations. Ukraine won two gold medals and Romania won one out of four available. In men's, Capatina repeated as the gold medalist in 90kg and Mamuka KORDZAIA (GEO) continued his winning run at +90kg.

The fourth stop was in Greece, and not much changed from the other stops. The glittering beaches saw winners from Romania, Ukraine, the United States, Turkiye, Moldova, Azerbaijan and Georgia. It all came down to Porec, Croatia for the finale. With ranking points up for grabs, it meant that the world champions would be decided in Porec.

The final stop in Porec decided the winners of the series. Ana Marie PIRVU (ROU) was the top wrestler in 50kg, Anastasiya KRAVCHENKO (UKR) in 60kg, Oksana HERHEL (UKR) in 70kg and Eliana BOMMARITO (USA) in +70kg. Bommarito was the only wrestler across categories to maintain a 100 percent record -- winning four gold medals.

In men's Yunus COSKUN (TUR) won the top spot in 70kg, Vasile DIACON (MDA) in 80kg, Ibrahim YUSUBOV (AZE) in 90kg and the evergreen Mamuka KORDZAIA (GEO) in +90kg.