#WrestleAmman

U17 Worlds: Dashdamirov repeats; Iran wins Greco team title

Wednesday, August 21, 2024 - 21:26 By Vinay Siwach

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AMMAN, Jordan (August 21) -- Azerbaijan may have found its new wonderkid. Turan DASHDAMIROV (AZE) is gradually turning out to be the wrestler to beat in age-group competitions. A two-time U17 European champion, Dashdamirov is now a two-time U17 world champion as he won the gold medal at 51kg in Amman on Wednesday.

While his controversial win at the U17 World Championships last year was still in his mind, Dashdamirov used it as an inspiration and collected the gold medal for this team with no asterisk.

In the 51kg final against Kutman KALBAEV (KGZ), the 16-year-old fell behind 3-1 after Kalbaev got a turn from par terre in the first period. But Dashdamirov did not panic and got a takedown at the start of the second period to lead 3-3 on criteria. However, he continued his gut wrench and claimed an outright 5-3 lead.

"The toughest match for me was the final," Dashdamirov said. "I was behind 3-1 in the first period, but then I put myself together, made it to 3-3 and then won the match. That’s the most important [thing]."

He was one of the two champions for Azerbaijan on day three of the U17 World Championships but it was Iran that once again clinched the team title with 140 points as Greco-Roman came to an end at the tournament. Uzbekistan, which won its first team title in Greco-Roman at the U17 level at the Asian Championships, finished second with 113 points, eight points ahead of Azerbaijan which was third.

Turan DASHDAMIROV (AZE)Turan DASHDAMIROV (AZE), blue, tries to block a move from Kutman KALBAEV (KGZ) during their 51kg final at the U17 World Championships in Amman. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Amirreza Aliasgari)

Dashdamirov's win was another feather in his cap as he extended his unbeaten run in his international career to 20; his last loss coming to Rustem ABATSIEV (AIN) back in 2021 in the final of the U15 European Championships. Abatsiev was his opponent in the U17 Worlds final last year.

"I came here as a two-time U17 European champion and a U17 World champion," he said. "I could feel that the opponents were getting ready to wrestle with me. However, I didn’t change any tactics. I stuck to the plan."

A native of Bina, a locality in which the Heydar Aliyev airport in located, in Khazar province in Azerbaijan, the 16-year-old's run in Amman included a 5-1 win over Sainath PARDHI (IND), a 57-second 9-0 win over Domenic MUNARETTO (USA) and a 4-1 win over Yerassyl MUSSAN (KAZ) in the semifinals. He now hopes to replicate winning golds at the next level.

"I have both European and World Championships," he said. "Now I am planning to achieve the same result at the U20 level. 

"In Azerbaijan, we have many good wrestlers. Eldaniz AZIZLI (AZE), Sanan SULEYMANOV (AZE), Hasrat JAFAROV (AZE). I try to take them as examples."

Aykhan JAVADOV (AZE)Aykhan JAVADOV (AZE) celebrates after winning gold medal in 60kg at the U17 World Championships. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Amirreza Aliasgari)

The second for Azerbaijan was won by Aykhan JAVADOV (AZE) who survived a few nasty attacks from Vakhtang LOLUA (GEO) in the 60kg final. Javadov, the U17 European champion, won 4-1.

Lolua was penalized for blocking Javadov by using hands on the face which gave Javadov a 3-1 lead at the break. In the second period, Lolua tried getting a stepout but Javadov survived, sometimes by a whisker. It was at one such attempt when Lolua thought he got a stepout but Javadov remained inside and got a stepout of his own against Lolua to lead 4-0.

Aykhan JAVADOV (AZE)Aykhan JAVADOV (AZE) survives a stepout against Vakhtang LOLUA (GEO) during their 60kg final at the U17 World Championships in Amman. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kostadin Andonov)

Javadov was cautioned for not engaging in the final few seconds but conceding one point did not stop him from winning the gold medal. In the semifinals, he had beaten returning champion Jordyn RANEY (USA) 2-1.

Raney returned with a bronze medal as he defeated Vadym MATROS (UKR) 6-1, becoming the first wrestler from the United States to win two Greco-Roman medals at the U17 World Championships since the restart of the tournament in 2011.

Danial IZADI (IRI)Danial IZADI (IRI) scores against Ole STERNING (GER) using an arm throw during their 92kg final at the U17 World Championships in Amman. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kostadin Andonov)

Iran got its third champion of the tournament as Danial IZADI (IRI) defeated Ole STERNING (GER), 4-0, to win the gold medal at 92kg. After scoring the takedown using an arm throw, Izadi turned Sterning to lead 4-0 and sat on it for the remaining three minutes of the bout.

In his five bouts in Amman, Izadi scored 30 points while conceding only one point with some big throws being the highlight of his campaign.

"I’ve been working hard for years and I wished to become the world champion," Izadi said. "Today I was able to become the world champion. I’m very happy and grateful."

Izadi, a native Gushlu village in the historic province Ardabil in northwest Iran and on the Azerbaijan border, will be moving to the U20 level next year and hopes to continue his success.

"Next year, I’ll be in U20s and I hope I’ll be a champion in U20 like I did here," he said.

Aslanbek KOSTOEV (AIN)Aslanbek KOSTOEV (AIN) celebrates after beating Marat ATSHEMYAN (ARM) in the 45kg final at the U17 World Championships in Amman. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kostandin Andonov)

At 45kg, Aslanbek KOSTOEV (AIN) avenged his U17 European finals loss to Marat ATSHEMYAN (ARM), pinning the Armenian in the final. Atshemyan had beaten Kostoev 10-0 in the European final last month.

Atshemyan was leading the final 3-2 with less than 30 seconds remaining but he tried to throw Kostoev on the edge but fell on his back with Kostoev in control, giving Kostoev a 4-3 lead. Desperate, the Armenian tried the same move and failed again. Kostoev held him on the mat to secure the fall.

Kiryl VALEUSKI (AIN) posted a dominant 7-1 win over Vladislav BYRLIA (AIN), in the 71kg final to win the gold medal. This win was more controlled than his 3-3 win at the U17 European Championships, a tournament in which Valeuski won gold as well.

Valeuski got a takedown when he tried to throw Byrlia using a headlock. No turns from par terre meant Valeuski led 3-1 when Byrlia tried a 'flying squirrel' but Valeuski smashed him on the mat to get four more points.

Mansi LATHER (IND)Mansi LATHER (IND) scores on Piper FOWLER (USA) during their 72kg quarterfinal at the U17 World Championships in Amman (Photo: 

India Perfect

India maintained a 100 percent record on the first day of women's wrestling in Amman. All four wrestlers in action reached the gold-medal bouts in their respective weight classes, the only country to achieve such a result. Aditi KUMARI (IND) began the winning run at 43kg followed by NEHA (IND) at 57kg, PULKIT (IND) at 65kg and Mansi LATHER (IND) at 73kg.

Kumari defeated Aleksandra BEREZOVSKAIA (AIN), 8-2, in the semifinals and will take on Maria GKIKA (GRE) who became the first Greek wrestler in 22 years to reach a World Championships final in women's wrestling. She defeated Gabriela PALACIOS (MEX), 6-1 in the semifinals.

Two-time Asian U17 champion and returning bronze medalist Neha saw off Anna STRATAN (KAZ), 8-4 in the semifinals. She will face So TSUTSUI (JPN) who defeated Palina BRAHINETS (AIN), 3-0, all non-action points, in the final.

PULKIT (IND) claimed a 3-0 win against Maram ALY (EGY) to set up a final against Daria FROLOVA (AIN) who took a 4-0 lead before Uldana TILEUKHAN (KAZ) rallied to make it 4-4 but did not realize that it was Frolova who held criteria. Frolova moved into the final with a 5-4 win.

At 73kg, Asian U17 champion Mansi LATHER (IND) defeated returning champ Piper FOWLER (USA) in the quarterfinals and Khrystyna DEMCHUK (UKR) via fall in the semifinals. She will wrestle Hanna PIRSKAYA (AIN) for the gold after Pirskaya pinned Makia KIMURA (JPN) in the other semifinal.

The only category without an Indian in the final was 49kg. Utaha YUI (JPN) and Na HU (CHN) will wrestle for gold as the former defeated Esra MAMMADLI (AZE), 9-0, while Hu rolled to an 11-0 win over Dounia ZITOUNI (ALG).

India did not send a wrestler in 49kg to the U17 Asian Championships in June. As per rules, a country can only send the same number of wrestlers to the World Championships as the continental championships.

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RESULTS

45kg
GOLD: Aslanbek KOSTOEV (AIN) df. Marat ATSHEMYAN (ARM), via fall (6-3)

BRONZE: Bekzhan BEISHEMBAEV (KGZ) df. Damir ABILDA (KAZ), via cautions (10-7)
BRONZE: Umidjon KAROMOV (UZB) df. Ahmad BADRADDINI (IRI), 9-1

51kg
GOLD: Turan DASHDAMIROV (AZE) df. Kutman KALBAEV (KGZ), 5-3

BRONZE: Sainath PARDHI (IND) df. Yerassyl MUSSAN (KAZ), 3-1
BRONZE: Abolfazl KARAMIEGAEI (IRI) df. Sargis HARUTYUNYAN (ARM), 7-1

60kg
GOLD: Aykhan JAVADOV (AZE) df. Vakhtang LOLUA (GEO), 4-1

BRONZE: Jordyn RANEY (USA) df. Vadym MATROS (UKR), 6-1
BRONZE: Farrukh YULDOSHEV (UZB) df. Ilias LAAOUINA (NED), 3-2

71kg
GOLD: Kiryl VALEUSKI (AIN) df. Vladislav BYRLIA (AIN), 7-1

BRONZE: Behruzbek VALIEV (UZB) df. Samvel TERTERYAN (ARM), 5-4
BRONZE: Giorgi ALADASHVILI (GEO) df. Joseph JETER (USA), 9-0 

92kg
GOLD: Danial IZADI (IRI) df. Ole STERNING (GER), 4-0

BRONZE: Vladimer MINADZE (GEO) df. Serkan BAKIR (TUR), 2-2
BRONZE: Fakhrikamol KOMILJONOV (UZB) df. Lyova SHUKHYAN (ARM), via fall (3-3)

Women's Wrestling Semifinals

43kg
GOLD: Maria GKIKA (GRE) vs. Aditi KUMARI (IND)

SF 1: Maria GKIKA (GRE) df. Gabriela PALACIOS (MEX), 6-1
SF 2: Aditi KUMARI (IND) df. Aleksandra BEREZOVSKAIA (AIN), 8-2

49kg
GOLD: Utaha YUI (JPN) vs. Na HU (CHN)

SF 1: Utaha YUI (JPN) df. Esra MAMMADLI (AZE), 9-0
SF 2: Na HU (CHN) df. Dounia ZITOUNI (ALG), 11-0

57kg
GOLD: So TSUTSUI (JPN) vs. NEHA (IND)

SF 1: So TSUTSUI (JPN) df. Palina BRAHINETS (AIN), 3-0
SF 2: NEHA (IND) df. Anna STRATAN (KAZ), 8-4

65kg
GOLD: PULKIT (IND) vs. Daria FROLOVA (AIN)

SF 1: PULKIT (IND) df. Maram ALY (EGY), 3-0
SF 2: Daria FROLOVA (AIN) df. Uldana TILEUKHAN (KAZ), 5-4

73kg
GOLD: Hanna PIRSKAYA (AIN) vs. Mansi LATHER (IND)

SF 1: Mansi LATHER (IND) df. Khrystyna DEMCHUK (UKR), via fall (12-2)
SF 2: Hanna PIRSKAYA (AIN) df. Makia KIMURA (JPN), via fall (5-0)

#WrestleBaku

Golden hattrick for Kougiomtsidis, historic gold for Lefter at U23 Euros

Saturday, May 25, 2024 - 16:08 By United World Wrestling Press

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BAKU, Azerbaijan (May 25) -- Georgios KOUGIOUMTSIDIS (GRE) seems to enjoy competing against Azerbaijani wrestlers.

In September last year at the World Championships, the former European champion got the better of Turan BAYRAMOV (AZE) in the fifth-place bout to book his Paris Olympics quota. On Saturday, he underlined his preparedness for this summer’s Games by defeating another Azerbaijan wrestler, Ali TCOKAEV (AZE).

And in doing so, he completed a rare golden hat-trick. A U23 European champion in 2022 and 2023, Kougioumtsidis completed the ‘three-peat’ in style. The 22-year-old needed barely five minutes to reach the semifinals, where he had to dig into his experience to overcome rookie wrestler Arsen BALAIAN (AIN).

Georgios KOUGIOUMTSIDIS (GRE)Georgios KOUGIOUMTSIDIS (GRE) won his third successive U23 European Championships gold medal. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kadir Caliskan)

In the final, Kougioumtsidis was up against the local hero Tcokaev. Only 21, the Azerbaijan wrestler was looking for his first-ever gold medal in this competition. Like his opponent, Tcokaev looked sharp coming into the final and he was the one making all the early moves. But in a blink of an eye, the wrestler from Greece turned the 79kg final on its head.

Kougioumtsidis was placed on the passivity clock just over a minute into the bout. That call seemed to have woken him up from his slumber. As the clock ticked down, Kougioumtsidis first went for Tcokaev’s left leg but the Azerbaijani was quick to defend. He then went for the right. This time, not only did he successfully execute the single-leg attack, but Kougioumtsidis also tripped him for a four-pointer.

Tcokaev tried making a comeback but Kougioumtsidis used his long limbs to keep his opponent at bay and closed out the match 4-1, not scoring any more points.

It was a statement win. But it also broke the hearts of the home fans who were expecting to see their wrestlers turn on the style on the penultimate day of the championships. Instead, they had to witness two Azerbaijani defeats in the finals.

Inalbek SHERIEV (AIN)Inalbek SHERIEV (AIN) won the 70kg gold medal after beating Kanan HEYBATOV (AZE) in the final. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kadir Caliskan)

Moments before Tcokaev lost to Kougioumtsidis, Kanan HEYBATOV (AZE) was defeated 6-2 by Inalbek SHERIEV (AIN) in the 70kg final.

Sheriev’s was one of the three Individual Neutral Athletes who won gold medals on Saturday. The finals session on the second last day of championships began with Artem GOBAEV (AIN) beating Muhammet KARAVUS (TUR) 8-3 for the 57kg gold medal.

Gobaev was dominant throughout the final, deftly evading Karavus’s moves and launching vicious counterattacks to give his Turkish rival no chance of winning and being crowned as the U23 continental champion for the first time.

Ibragim IBRAGIMOV (AIN)Ibragim IBRAGIMOV (AIN) captured the 65kg title after beating defending champion Khamzat ARSAMERZOUEV (FRA). (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kadir Caliskan)

If Gobaev was patient enough to capitalize on his opponent’s mistakes, Ibragim IBRAGIMOV (AIN) was like a flashy sports car that takes less than 10 seconds to go full throttle.

Since winning the U23 World Championship title last year, Ibragimov hasn’t had a lot to show from his fledgling wrestling career. Big wins and titles have both been missing. That drought ended in Baku.

Ibragimov had spent less than 10 minutes on the mat on Friday to reach the final, scoring 21 points and allowing just one. But in Khamzat ARSAMERZOUEV (FRA), he was up against the defending U23 European Championship gold medallist in the 65kg final.

He might not have won anything eye-popping of late, but Ibragimov didn’t look too overwhelmed by the quality of his opponent. The Frenchman was still to settle into the final when Ibragimov bent forward and got a grip of his leg for a swift two-point takedown.

The bout was only eight seconds old, but from that moment on, the writing was on the wall. Ibragimov kept chipping away constantly at his opponent to keep the scorecard ticking in his favor through a series of push-outs and passivity points Arsamerzouev conceded.

Eventually, in the battle between the U23 world champion, Ibragimov, and the U23 European champion, it was the former who prevailed 6-2.

Radu LEFTER (MDA)Radu LEFTER (MDA) celebrates after winning the 97kg gold medal, a first for Moldova at the U23 European Championships in Freestyle. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kadir Caliskan)

Lefter wins historic gold

Radu LEFTER (MDA) will remember this day for a long time. Not only did he win his first gold medal at a championship, Lefter became the first wrestler from Moldova to win a Freestyle gold medal at the U23 European Championships after he defeated Soslan DZHAGAEV (AIN) in the final.

A two-time U23 World Championships silver medalist, Lefter got a huge baggage off his back after winning the gold in Baku. This was Lefter's fourth U23 European Championships where he has previously won a silver and two bronze medals. He also has a silver at the U20 and a bronze at the U17 European Championships.

In Baku, Lefter reached the final after two technical superiority wins but was challenged by Dzhagaev. He was put on the activity clock in the first period and trailed 1-0 at the break. But the second period was a completely different story.

Dzhagaev was put on the activity clock during which he hit a single-leg attack but Lefter countered it with exposure to get two points in addition to one after the activity clock expired to lead 3-1. With the clock ticking, Dzhagaev felt the pressure and made half-attacks, including an inside trip in the final 10 seconds which Lefter countered for a takedown and secure the historic win.

Dzhabrail GADZHIEV (AZE)2022 U23 European champion Dzhabrail GADZHIEV (AZE) will look to win his second title on Sunday. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Jake Kirkman)

Gadzhiev, Magamadov eye titles

On the final day of the competition, former U23 European champion Dzhabrail GADZHIEV (AZE) will face Kamil ABDULVAGABOV (AIN) for the bragging rights in the 74kg.

Abdulvagabov had to overcome a tough opening round where he was stretched all the way by Irahim YAPRAK (TUR) before winning 5-4. After that initial hiccup, Abdulvagabov had little trouble beating other opponents, winning the quarterfinal by technical superiority and scoring a 7-3 win over Krisztian BIRO (ROU).

Gadzhiev’s route was a lot more straightforward wherein he didn’t have to survive any scares, scoring 28 points so far and conceding only 6.

The battle in the 86kg weight class, too, promises to be a mouthwatering as defending champion Rakhim MAGAMADOV (FRA) will face Arslan BAGAEV (AIN). Only 20, Magamadov has a slew of titles to his name and will hope to add another U23 European title to his already impressive trophy cabinet.

In the 125kg class, Alen KHUBULOV (BUL) gave himself a fighting chance to win his first-ever gold medal at an international level after he reached the final, where he will face SOLOMON MANASHVILI (GEO).

Both wrestlers have had more or less an identical path to the final, with Khubulov playing an extra bout as he had to first compete in the qualifying round, which he convincingly won.

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RESULTS

57kg
GOLD: Artem GOBAEV (AIN) df. Muhammet KARAVUS (TUR), 8-3

BRONZE: Luka GVINJILIA (GEO) df. Thomas EPP (SUI), 4-1
BRONZE: Vladyslav ABRAMOV (UKR) df. Herbert AKAPIAN (AIN), 8-3

65kg
GOLD: Ibragim IBRAGIMOV (AIN) df. Khamzat ARSAMERZOUEV (FRA), 6-2

BRONZE: Serghei CILCIC (MDA) df. Daniel KULCZYNSKI (POL), 4-0
BRONZE: Abdullah TOPRAK (TUR) df. Ayub MUSAEV (BEL), 3-2

70kg
GOLD: Inalbek SHERIEV (AIN) df. Kanan HEYBATOV (AZE), 6-2

BRONZE: Constantin CHIRILOV (MDA) df. Bohdan OLIINYK (UKR), 3-1
BRONZE: Davit PATSINASHVILI (GEO) df. Mikita DZEMCHANKA (AIN), 5-0

79kg
GOLD: Georgios KOUGIOUMTSIDIS (GRE) df. Ali TCOKAEV (AZE), 4-1

BRONZE: Radomir STOYANOV (BUL) df. Marius RETCO (MDA), 6-4
BRONZE: Arsen BALAIAN (AIN) df. RAFFAELE MATRULLO (ITA), via fall (2-0)

97kg
GOLD: Radu LEFTER (MDA) df. Soslan DZHAGAEV (AIN), 6-1

BRONZE: Rifat GIDAK (TUR) df. Ravan MUSAYEV (AZE), 2-2
BRONZE: Merab SULEIMANISHVILI (GEO) df. Angelos KOUKLARIS (GRE), 10-8

Freestyle Semifinals

61kg
GOLD: Bashir MAGOMEDOV (AIN) vs. Mykyta ABRAMOV (UKR)

SF 1: Mykyta ABRAMOV (UKR) df. Nuraddin NOVRUZOV (AZE), 15-12
SF 2: Bashir MAGOMEDOV (AIN) df. Simone PIRODDU (ITA), 10-0

74kg
GOLD: Kamil ABDULVAGABOV (AIN) vs. Dzhabrail GADZHIEV (AZE)

SF 1: Dzhabrail GADZHIEV (AZE) df. Luka CHKHITUNIDZE (GEO), 7-4
SF 2: Kamil ABDULVAGABOV (AIN) df. Krisztian BIRO (ROU), 7-3

86kg
GOLD: Arslan BAGAEV (AIN) vs. Rakhim MAGAMADOV (FRA)

SF 1: Arslan BAGAEV (AIN) df. Arsenii DZHIOEV (AZE), 5-1
SF 2: Rakhim MAGAMADOV (FRA) df. Emre CIFTCI (TUR), 11-0

92kg
GOLD: Gkivi BLIATZE (GRE) vs. Adlan VISKHANOV (FRA)

SF 1: Adlan VISKHANOV (FRA) df. Mustafagadzhi MALACHDIBIROV (AIN), 10-4
SF 2: Gkivi BLIATZE (GRE) df. Ion DEMIAN (MDA), 4-2

125kg
GOLD: Alen KHUBULOV (BUL) vs. Solomon MANASHVILI (GEO)

SF 1: Alen KHUBULOV (BUL) df. Abdulla KURBANOV (AIN), 3-2
SF 2: Solomon MANASHVILI (GEO) df. Milan KORCSOG (HUN), 4-1