#WrestleAmman

U20 World Championships, Day 2 semis set

Tuesday, August 15, 2023 - 06:57 By Vinay Siwach

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AMMAN, Jordan (August 15) -- The second day of the U20 World Championships will see the remaining five Freestyle weight classes in action. After the United States and Iran dominated day one, it will interesting to see if they can sustain their momentum.

WATCH LIVE | MATCH ORDER

Semifinals

61kg
Besir ALILI (MKD) vs. Mohit KUMAR (IND)
Ali KHORRAMDEL (IRI) vs. Eldar AKHMADUDINOV (AIN)

74kg
Anton SUCHKOV (AIN) vs. Hossein AGHAEI (IRI)
Mitchell MESENBRINK (USA) vs. Zhakshylyk BAITASHOV (KGZ)

86kg
Bennett BERGE (USA) vs. Rakhim MAGAMADOV (FRA)
Fumiya IGARASHI (JPN) vs. Eugeniu MIHALCEAN (MDA)

92kg
Rizabek AITMUKHAN (KAZ) vs. Giorgi ROMELASHVILI (GEO)
Mohammadmobin AZIMI (IRI) vs. Knyaz IBOYAN (ARM)

125kg
Said AKHMATOV (AIN) vs. Karanveer MAHIL (CAN)
Amirreza MASOUMI (IRI) vs. Volodymyr KOCHANOV (UKR) 

Iran ended the first session on day two of the U20 World Championships slightly better than the United States. Iran managed to send four wrestlers in the semifinal while the U.S. managed only two. That makes Iran the favorite for the Freestyle team title.

15:01: U20 Pan-Am champion Karanveer MAHIL (CAN) with two big double-leg attacks for four to beat Levan LAGVILAVA (FRA) 11-0 in the 125kg quarterfinals. He will take on Said AKHMATOV (AIN) in the semifinals.

14:55: U17 world champion Yusif DURSUNOV (AZE) feels the heat of U20 competition and drops his quarterfinal at 125kg against Said AKHMATOV (AIN) 5-1. Akhmatov never allowed Dursunov to complete his attacks.

14:40: Mohammadmobin AZIMI (IRI) is right up there. In complete control of his 11-0 win against Mustafagadzhi MALACHDIBIROV (AIN) in the 92kg quarterfinals. Nothing seems to trouble him.

14:35: Eugeniu MIHALCEAN (MDA) may have pulled off the upset of the tournament as he beats Amirhossein ALIZADEHSHAHKOLAEI (IRI) 5-3 in the 86kg quarterfinals. The Iran wrestler looked solid as he avenged his U20 Asian finals lost to Mukul DAHIYA (IND) but could not score a decisive takedown against Mihalcean who was ecstatic after the win. 

14:31: No stopping Amirreza MASOUMI (IRI) at 125kg. He makes short work of Christian CARROLL (USA) in the quarterfinals. Next up on Mat A is the supremely talented Mohammadmobin AZIMI (IRI) who takes on Mustafagadzhi MALACHDIBIROV (AIN) at 92kg.

14:28: Incredible action from both Mohit KUMAR (IND) and Nicholas BOUZAKIS (USA) at 61kg. Bouzakis raced to a 4-0 lead before Kumar made it 4-4. Bouzakis continued his attacks and led 8-6. In the second period, Bouzakis began with a takedown but Kumar, with his slightly better gas tank, scored three and led 12-10. Bouzakis however got a foul from Kumar and a par terre position with 19 seconds remaining. However, he failed to turn Kumar who won 12-11 to return to the semifinals at 61kg

14:15: Mitchell MESENBRINK (USA) absolutely dominates JAIDEEP (IND) to win 11-0 and move into the 74kg semifinals. He is looking to reach his second straight U20 World Championships final.

13:40: The United States suffered its first defeat in this tournament on the second day. Giorgi ROMELASHVILI (GEO) beats Jack DARRAH (USA) at 92kg.

13:20: U17 world champion Yusif DURSUNOV (AZE) continues his winning run at U20 World Championships as well. He blanks Teodor GJORGIEV (MKD) 10-0 at 125kg.

12:50: The U.S. continues the good show as Mitchell MESENBRINK (USA) rolls through 12-1 against Elkhan GARAYEV (AZE) at 74kg.

12:45: Defending champion Rakhim MAGAMADOV (FRA) with a fall! Shakjir BISLIMI (MKD) was no match for the France wrestler who scored 10 points before getting the win.

12:35: Bennett BERGE (USA) is on the mat now for his 86kg pre-quarterfinals against Ivan CHORNOHUZ (UKR). Berge was the silver medalist last year. He takes a 3-2 lead against Chornohuz who adds a stepout before the two wrestlers scores two-and-two. Berge leads 5-5 on criteria with a minute left. He gets the job done 7-5 

12:15: Ryunosuke KAMIYA (JPN) suffers a heartbreaking loss in the pre-quarterfinals at 74kg. The silver medalist from last year scored a takedown in the final minute against Anton SUCHKOV (AIN) but the AIN wrestler managed to hold on for a 3-2 win.

12:00: Defending champion Amirreza MASOUMI (IRI) with a solid 9-1 win over Hakan BUYUKCINGIL (TUR) at 125kg. That strong underhook is still his go-to win bouts.

11:45: Rin SAKAMOTO (JPN) with a fall over  Musa AGHAYEV (AZE) and on Mat A, Besir ALILI (MKD) wins a 14-11 slugfest against Mykola TASHOHLO (UKR).

11:30: The 61kg weight class in action and returning bronze medalist Mohit KUMAR (IND) begins with a 12-2 technical superiority win over Zoltan MIZSEI (HUN). He will face Dmitri CARASTOIANOV (MDA) in the next round.

10:50: U20 Asian champion Yerkhan BEXULTANOV (KAZ) uses a strong leg lace to beat U20 Pan-Am silver medalist Amaan GULACHA (CAN) via technical superiority at 74kg.

10:40: Ryunosuke KAMIYA (JPN), who won the silver medal at 74kg last year, begins on a strong note and beats Tanner PEAKE (PUR) 10-0. Kamiya is looking to upgrade his medal.

10:30: Returning silver medalist at 70kg Mitchell MESENBRINK (USA) has begun his quest for another world medal with a 10-0 win over Ion MARCU (MDA). A thoroughly controlled bout as he moves up to 74kg in Amman.

10:00: After the United States and Iran dominated day one, sending three wrestlers each in the finals, Iran will look to take the lead in the team title race as the U.S. looks for an upset.

#WrestleBaku

'Wrestling brothers' Huseynov, Akbudak ready for GR World Cup

Friday, November 4, 2022 - 19:38 By Vinay Siwach

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BAKU, Azerbaijan (November 4) -- When Rafig HUSEYNOV (AZE) came to know that Burhan AKBUDAK (TUR) will also be at the opening press conference for the Greco-Roman World Cup, he drove to the team hotel to pick up Akbudak.

Though aware that the two teams can compete in the World Cup final on Sunday, Huseynov puts that rivalry aside to set an example of hospitality, not just for Akbudak but for participants as well.

"We are friends," Huseynov said. "We have known each other for a long time."

At most competitions, the two would be busy with the preparations to win a medal at the World or European Championships. But the World Cup provides an opportunity for the wrestlers to engage more. The relaxed feel of the tournament also allows the wrestlers to mix with each other.

Rafig HUSEYNOV (AZE)Rafig HUSEYNOV (AZE) and Burhan AKBUDAK (TUR) wrestling at the 2021 World Championships. (Photo: UWW / Kadir Caliskan)

Huseynov and Akbudak have been wrestling together for the last six years. A common language, cultural similarities and the same weight class have helped them become even closer.

"We are like brothers in wrestling," Huseynov said. "We train together in camps and we meet every competition. So we became close friends."

Azerbaijan and Turkiye have hosted numerous training camps together and it was at one of these camps in 2015 that Akbudak and Huseynov, sparring partners, became friends.

But along with the friendship comes the rivalry. Since both compete in the same weight class, the two face each other on the mat at international tournaments.

Both have met three times with Huseynov winning two bouts and Akbudak winning one, in February 2022, incidentally in his hometown Istanbul. In 2021, Huseynov became a world champion at 82kg by beating Akbudak 2-1 in the gold medal bout.

Huseynov did not forget to respect Akbudak after winning the gold and carried the Turkiye flag along with the Azerbaijan flag during the celebrations.

Even in Baku, one can see flags of Azerbaijan and Turkiye being hoisted together on balconies, in malls and even in public transport denoting the close relationships between the two countries.

With another bout between the two peers looming at the World Cup, this time in Huseynov's backyard Baku, both are ready to put the friendship aside and put on a show for the fans.

"When we wrestle, we wrestle to win," Huseynov said. "That's the plan. But if I win or him, we win together."

Akbudak, the newly crowned world champion, echoed the same thoughts as he leads a talented Turkish team into the World Cup. Turkiye faces a strong Iran team in the morning session Saturday.

"We are very close friends for long," Akbudak said. "It has more to do with Turkiye and Azerbaijan being close countries now. We hope to win as well."

Eldaniz AZIZLI (AZE)Eldaniz AZIZLI (AZE) and Nugzari TSURTSUMIA (UWW) will resume their rivalry at the Greco-Roman World Cup. (Photo: UWW / Martin Gabor)

The Greco-Roman World Cup will see Azerbaijan and the All-World team in Group A after Serbia had to pull out due to COVID-19 cases in the camp.

Azerbaijan will hope to win this battle against the All-World team, participating for the first time in the World Cup, and reach the final.

"As you know the Greco-Roman team of Azerbaijan has been performing stronger," Eldaniz AZIZLI (AZE), a two-time world champion, said. "It doesn't matter if world champion or not, there is always more pressure when wrestling in the home country and in Baku.

"But we want to win and prove that Azerbaijan is a strong team."

The All-World team will have Nugzari TSURTSUMIA (UWW) at 55kg who would hope to get his first win over Azizli. Among other losses, two of them have come in the World Championships finals.

World Championships silver medalists Leri ABULADZE (UWW), Zoltan LEVAI (UWW) and Jalgasbay BERDIMURATOV (UWW) are among other stars part of the All-World team.

Manyas KNYSTAUTAS (LTU)All-World team member Mantas KNYSTAUTAS (UWW) at the press conference in Baku. (Photo: UWW / Dogukan Karadag)

At 130kg, Mantas KNYSTAUTAS (LTU) will represent the team and was motivated to perform at the World Cup, an opportunity he thinks will rarely come his way.

"I may not ever be part of the World Cup as a team Lithuania," Knystautas said. "But I am motivated to wrestle with other guys in the world who are the best. It's a celebration of wrestling and I am proud to represent Lithuania."

In Group B, Iran will open the session against Turkiye before the two teams collide against Kyrgyzstan. In all likelihood, the winner of the Iran-Turkiye clash will reach the gold medal bout.

Apart from Akbudak, Turkiye boasts of Kerem KAMAL (TUR), Selcuk CAN (TUR), Yunus BASAR (TUR), Metehan BASAR (TUR) and Osman YILDIRIM (TUR).

Iran too has brought a strong squad with Poya DAD MARZ (IRI), Mehdi MOHSEN NEJAD (IRI), Iman Khoon MOHAMMADI (IRI), Abolfazl CHOUBANI (IRI), Mehdi BALIHAMZEHDEH (IRI) and Aliakbar YOUSOFI (IRI).

Wrestling begins at 1000 hours local time and will be live on uww.org and the UWW official app which can be downloaded from Google Play Store | Apple App Store.