#WrestleAmman

U20 Worlds: Alameldin gives Egypt gold; Iran wins team title

Sunday, August 20, 2023 - 15:15 By Vinay Siwach

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AMMAN, Jordan (August 20) -- Six wrestlers from Egypt have managed to reach a final at a U20 World Championships in the past. None crossed the final hurdle till Sunday.

Moustafa ALAMELDIN (EGY) took it upon himself to create history for Egypt by becoming the first wrestler from his country to win the gold at U20 World Championships as he defeated Gaspar TERTERYAN (ARM), 4-2, in the 67kg final in Amman, Jordan.

Alameldin got a turn from par terre and then defended as if his life depended on it when put in par terre in the second period. He led 3-1 and gave up a stepout in the final second. Armenia challenged the call asking for fleeing but lost which added the extra points to Alameldin's score.

"I didn't want anyone to take advantage against me from par terre," Alameldin said. "I positioned myself properly and remained strong. All I was thinking about was getting this medal."

His run to gold included five thrilling victories, beginning with Luka IVANCIC (CRO). He then faced returning gold medalist Kanan ABDULLAZADE (AZE) but remained unfazed, beating him 7-5. Azat SARIYAR (TUR) was no match as Alameldin reached the semifinal against Ahoura BOUVEIRI PIANI (IRI). A fierce battle saw Alameldin lead 4-0 before Bouveiri made it 5-2 at the break. Alameldin caught Bouveiri in the middle of a turn and scored two before adding two more. The 9-4 score stood till the clock expired.

"The final was very difficult and strong," he said. "However, the second match was the most difficult but I was able to win the gold medal."

The Alameldin win also marks the first time Egypt has won a gold medal at a World Championships after four years. Mohamed EL SAYED (EGY) won gold at the U23 World Championships in 2019.

The U20 African champion had participated in the senior African Championships last year and won silver after losing to Tokyo Olympian Abdelkarim FERGAT (ALG). At the U20 event, he lost to Fayssal BENFREDJ (ALG).

However, he turned it around this year by beating Benfredj 9-0 to become the U20 African champion. He also finished fifth at the Alexandria Ranking Series event. He lost 5-3 to Merey BEKENOV (KAZ) in the opening bout but pinned Tokyo bronze medalist Sailike WALIHAN (CHN) in the repechage. A close 3-2 loss to HUSIYUETU (CHN) in the bronze medal bout saw him finish fifth.

The gold in Amman helped Egypt finish inside the top 10 in the team race which was won by Iran with 162 points, way ahead of the second-placed Georgia which had 89 points.

Armenia will look back at this and two more losses in the bronze-medal bouts as missed opportunities to finish second. It was third with 88 points while Turkiye finished with 81 points in fourth place. Asian powerhouse Kyrgyzstan, which did not bring a full squad, was fifth with 70 points.

While Terteryan lost, his compatriot Suren AGHAJANYAN (ARM) clinched the gold medal at 60kg. For a while, memories of the 2022 U20 World Championships final must have come gushing back to Aghajanyan as he tried to double-arm lock SUMIT (IND). It was a move that cost him the gold medal in 2022.

"Last year, I had a very hurtful loss in the last 20 seconds," Aghajanyan said. "After that, I spent the whole year preparing to win the gold medal. I’ve trained a lot to achieve this."

Saeid ESMAEILI LEIVESI (IRI) got his arm out of that lock and put Suren AGHAJANYAN (ARM) on his back to win 6-6 in 2022. Sumit, however, did not break the lock and despite ending on top of Aghajanyan, got two points. He tried pinning the Armenian but was denied as Aghajanyan defended extraordinarily using the bridge position.

"I was in a risky position in the final match but I was sure I would get out of it," Aghajanyan said referring to the attempted pin by Sumit.

Leading 9-4 at this point, the two wrestlers were called in neutral and Aghajanyan scored a big four to win the gold medal 13-4 and banish the memories of the previous U20 World Championships in which he finished with a silver medal.

While he is still number two in the country at 60kg behind Gevorg GHARIBYAN (ARM), Aghajanyan hopes to climb up the ladder soon.

"I am still the second one on our senior team," he said. "But I will work hard and do my best to become first in my weight class to win the Olympic qualification license."

Alperen BERBER (TUR)Alperen BERBER (TUR) scores a takedown against Yasin YAZDI (IRI) in the 82kg final. (Photo: UWW / Amirreza Aliasgari)

At 82kg, Alperen BERBER (TUR) added a U20 world title a year after winning the U17 gold medal in emphatic style as he beat Yasin YAZDI (IRI) 9-1 in the gold medal bout.

Last year, the 18-year-old lost to Alireza MOHMADIPIANI (IRI) 8-2 in the semifinals but returned to win the bronze medal. He left nothing to chance, using four strong gut wrenches from par terre in the second period to complete his victory.

The win would come as a relief for Berber as he struggled at the start of the year, finishing seventh at the U23 European Championships. But he participated in the Bishkek Ranking Series and won a silver after losing to Mohamadipiani in the final in June. Two weeks later he won silver the U20 European Championships.

In his earlier bouts, Berber defeated Wojciech IWANOWSKI (POL) 10-0, Ivan CHMYR (UKR) 3-1 in the quarterfinals and Data CHKHAIDZE (GEO) 8-0 in the semifinals, widening the gap from their previous bout which ended 3-1.

Imran ALIEV (AIN)Imran ALIEV (AIN) finished the 72kg final in 2 minutes and 19 seconds. (Photo: UWW / Amirreza Aliasgari)

Imran ALIEV (AIN) captured the gold medal at 72kg in just two minutes and 19 seconds as he gut wrenched Levente LEVAI (HUN). He scored a takedown to open his scoring before Levai was called for inactivity, giving one more point to Aliev. It took a little effort but Aliev got three strong turns to clinch the gold.

Aliev was clearly the most dominant wrestler of the tournament as he won all five of his bouts via technical superiority. Apart from the 9-0 win over Levai in the final, he beat Anri PUTKARADZE (GEO), 9-0, in the semifinal, Seyedmohammadmahdi MIRI (IRI), 10-1, in the quarterfinals, Ankit GULIA (IND), 11-3, in the pre-quarterfinals and Imur TEMIRBEKOV (KGZ), 8-0, in the qualification round.

Abubakar KHASLAKHANAU (AIN)Abubakar KHASLAKHANAU (AIN) celebrates after winning the 97kg final. (Photo: UWW / Amirreza Aliasgari)

The final gold of the night was won by Abubakar KHASLAKHANAU (AIN) as he defeated 2022 U17 world champion Gor AYVAZYAN (GEO), 8-0, in three minutes and 40 seconds.

Ayvazyan was called passive in the first period and Khaslakhanau scored a correct throw and reverse lift to make it 5-0. Using his strength to rattle Ayvazyan, the AIN wrestler scored two stepouts before the 30-second break.

A stepout 40 seconds into the second period gave Khaslakhanau the gold medal.

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RESULTS

60kg
GOLD: Suren AGHAJANYAN (ARM) df. SUMIT (IND), 13-4

BRONZE: Amirreza DEHBOZORGI (IRI) df. Saifulla KURMAN (KAZ), 9-0
BRONZE: Ilkin GURBANOV (AZE) df. Emirlan DUISHENALIEV (KGZ), 3-1

67kg
GOLD: Moustafa ALAMELDIN (EGY) df. Gaspar TERTERYAN (ARM), 4-2

BRONZE: Azat SARIYAR (TUR) df. Ahoura BOUVEIRI PIANI (IRI), 3-2
BRONZE: Arslanbek SALIMOV (POL) df. Nestori MANNILA (FIN), 4-0

72kg
GOLD: Imran ALIEV (AIN) df. Levente LEVAI (HUN), 9-0

BRONZE: Anri PUTKARADZE (GEO) df. Seyedmohammadmahdi MIRI (IRI), 5-1
BRONZE: Muhammed GOCMEN (TUR) df. Aaron BELLSCHEIDT (GER), 5-4

82kg
GOLD: Alperen BERBER (TUR) df. Yasin YAZDI (IRI), 9-1

BRONZE: Data CHKHAIDZE (GEO) df. Ivan CHMYR (UKR), 2-1
BRONZE: Imam ALIEV (AIN) df. Ruben GEVORGYAN (ARM), via fall (4-0)

97kg
GOLD: Abubakar KHASLAKHANAU (AIN) df. Gor AYVAZYAN (GEO), 8-0

BRONZE: Magomed MUKHTAROV (AIN) df. Kevin USPENSKI (EST), 8-0
BRONZE: Rostislav COVALI (MDA) df. Arshak GEGHAMYAN (ARM), via fall (5-5)

#WrestleTirana

Kayaalp's 13: New Golden Standard Set in Europe

Tuesday, April 21, 2026 - 15:27 By United World Wrestling Press

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TIRANA, Albania (April 20) -- On Tuesday evening in Tirana, Riza KAYAALP (TUR) did something that for years existed and was expected to continue to exist only as a hypothetical.

He won his 13th European title in Tirana on Tuesday, beating Darius VITEK (HUN), 7-1, in the 130kg European Championships. 2026 joined 2023, 2022, 2021, 2019, 2018, 2017, 2016, 2015, 2014, 2013, 2012 and 2010.

Riza KAYAALP (TUR)Riza KAYAALP (TUR) turns Darius VITEK (HUN) in the 130kg final. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kadir Caliskan)

As the referee raised his powerfully sculpted right arm in triumph, Kayaalp raised the ceiling in Greco-Roman. He moved past the legendary Aleksandr KARELIN’s 12 European gold medals, the last of which he had won in 2000. Generations of wrestlers had competed, won and lost, knowing all the while that that number would outlast them. Until Kayaalp finally eclipsed it.

The moment itself wasn’t dramatic in the way history is often expected to be. Just a raised hand, a nod and a lap of honor around the mat with the Turkish flag around his shoulders. That’s been the story of Kayaalp’s career.

Riza KAYAALP (TUR)Riza KAYAALP (TUR) speaks to the media after winning the gold medal at the European Championships. (United World Wrestling / Jake Kirkman)

Born in Yozgat, in central Turkey, Kayaalp would have inherently understood the role of wrestling in Turkish sporting heritage and the place champions of the sport have historically held in the nation. He would have grown up in the shadow of two-time Olympic and eight-time European champion Hamza YERLIKAYA, who defined Turkish wrestling in the 1990s and like everyone else in the sport, under the global shadow of Karelin.

Slowly and methodically Kayaalp would try to match them. His career has been relentless and consistent rather than spectacular. Since his first European gold in 2010, won as a twenty-year old, Kayaalp has claimed titles across two decades. He’s adapted through rule changes, generations of opponents, and brutal physical wear and tear of time itself.

Apart from his European titles, he has five World Championships gold medals, and three Olympic medals -- a bronze in London 2012, silver in Rio 2016, bronze again in Tokyo 2020. Every time a major medal was to be decided over the past decade and a half, Kayaalp would with almost absurd reliability be counted in the mix.

Riza KAYAALP (TUR)Riza KAYAALP (TUR) with Taha AKGUL (TUR) at the medal ceremony in Tirana. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kadir Caliskan)

For all of Kayaalp’s longevity, his career has always carried the one obvious gap compared to Karelin or Yerlikaya -- no Olympic gold. That absence will still be there. That gap is unlikely to close any time soon. As such the European mark became a milestone within his grasp. Or in the last few years, a milestone just out of grasp.

Indeed, for Kayaalp the title will provide a sense of closure. He had equalled Karelin’s record at the 2023 European championships in Zagreb. Prior to that tournament, he had in an interview with Anadalou Agency spoken of equalling Karelin’s record, breaking it at the 2024 European Championships and finally finishing his career on a high note with a gold at the 2024 Paris Olympics.

But things would not go as planned. At the 2024 European Championships, Kayaalp was pinned in the final by Sergey SEMENOV (UWW) -- only the second final he had ever lost in Europe. A few months later despite qualifying for the Olympics he was unable to compete due to a medication issue linked to treatment for persistent tinnitus. His appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport was upheld, clearing the way for his return. He would describe the period as the toughest of his career.

But the ordeal had left him with a new purpose and a desire to exit the stage on his own terms.

“For an athlete with so many titles, this was the worst thing that could happen,” he said. “Because of a simple issue, we faced a huge problem. But I always believed I would overcome it, return to my job and leave the sport on my own terms,” he had told Anadalou Agency at the start of 2026 when he made his return to international competition at the Zagreb Ranking series earlier this year.

“There was fatigue before. In this 18-month period, my desire to work came back stronger. I was already motivated to be champion. Now it is even greater. I feel renewed,” he had said.

While Kayaalp has said he would compete until the 2028 Olympics, he had also spoken of the unfinished business he had had in Europe. “I was so close,” he said. “Fourteen finals, 12 European titles, one more for the record, and then something unwanted happens. But everything is resolved. To bring that record to my country would mean a lot,” he had said then.

He had come close once and fallen short. That could have been the ending -- a near miss against an immortal number. Instead, with his 13th European title, Kayaalp gets to tell his story. He stands alone as the most decorated European wrestler of all time.

Records though exist to be broken. At some point, inevitably, another wrestler will look at Kayaalp's number and decide to chase it. But at least for some time, records exist to define limits. For over a quarter of a century that limit was Karelin’s 12. Now it’s Kayaalp’s 13.