#Pankration

Ukraine, Kazakhstan dominate Pankration World Championships

Thursday, May 11, 2023 - 10:31 By Vinay Siwach

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TASHKENT, Uzbekistan (May 10) -- Athletes from 10 countries descended upon Tashkent to perform at the Pankration World Championships on May 2-4 and the action did not disappoint. The competition was held in two styles -- Elite and Traditional -- for both men and women.

Pankration is an ancient combat sport with a combination of wrestling and striking techniques, fought on a mat with protective gear and gloves.

At the World Championships, held for the first time since 2021, Pankration powerhouse Ukraine won five gold medals in the men's Elite competition while Kazakhstan captured four. However, Kazakhstan finished top of the team rankings with 190 points to Ukraine's 180, thanks to its other medals.

On the women's side, Ukraine was better and pipped Kazakhstan to take the top spot. Ukraine won six out of nine gold medals with the remaining three going to Kazakhstan. Ukraine finished with 165 points while Kazakhstan managed 162 points.

In men's Traditional, Ukraine and Kazakhstan both finished with 184 points but the former had five gold medals compared to four for Kazakhstan, giving them the first place.

But the ranks were reversed in women's Traditional as Kazakhstan finished with 190 points while Ukraine had 170 points. Ukraine only fielded seven athletes in nine weights which cost them the top rank.

RESULTS

Men's Elite

57kg
GOLD: Perdekhan SHYNDALIYEV (KAZ)
SILVER: Vitalii YAKYMENKO (UKR) 
BRONZE: Umidjon TODJIDINOV (UZB)

62kg
GOLD: Meirbek TULEGENOV (KAZ) df. Almaz SARSEMBEKOV (KAZ), via submission

BRONZE: Abdukarim ANVAROV (UZB) df. Anvar ABDULLAEV (UZB), via submission

66kg
GOLD: Sabit ZHUSSIP (KAZ) df. Yerkanat OSPAN (KAZ), via submission

BRONZE: Ihor ZHOVNIR (UKR) df. Yurii CHERKALIUK (UKR), via knockout
BRONZE: Zafar RASHIDOV (UZB) df. Ali Allahverdi GULIYEV (AZE), 15-3

71kg
GOLD: Oleksandr HULIAIEV (UKR) df. Ivan KURELARU (UKR), 13-8

BRONZE: Ruslan SARIYEV (KAZ) df. Imran ABBASGULIYEV (AZE), via forfeit
BRONZE: Zhassulan AKIMZHAN (KAZ) df. Ali SHARIFOV (AZE), 14-0

77kg
GOLD: Aidyn TOLEPBAYEV (KAZ) df. Olzhas YESKARAYEV (KAZ), 12-6

BRONZE: Dostonbek BOZOROV (UZB) df. Asadbek SAIDOV (UZB), via submission

84kg
GOLD: Kyrylo HOROBETS (UKR) df. Samat SHAGYRAYEV (KAZ), 16-7

BRONZE: Andrei CIUBOTARU (MDA) df. Aditya BUKKI (IND), 12-2
BRONZE: Asroriddin MUKHRIDINOV (KAZ) df. Khasan NAFULLAEV (UZB), 8-7

92kg
GOLD: Roman KIZIUK (UKR) df. Islom BALTAEV (UZB), 18-6

BRONZE: Jonibek NAMOZOV (UZB) df. Duman BALMUKHANOV (KAZ), 11-10
BRONZE: Kairatbek ZHAREKEYEV (KAZ) df. Andrii ROMANIUK (UKR), via knockout

100kg
GOLD: Bohdan HNIDKO (UKR) df. Diyar NURGOZHAY (KAZ), 17-7

BRONZE: Konstantin LI (KGZ) df. Martin NUSSMANN (GER), via forfiet

+100kg
GOLD: Oleksandr PYSANKO (UKR)
SILVER: Shakhmaral JETPISSOV (KAZ)
BRONZE: Rustamhuja SAIDUMAROV (UZB)

Women's Elite

50kg
GOLD: Aidyn ABDIBAY (KAZ) df. Polina TUMAYEVA (KAZ), via forfeit

53kg
GOLD: Anna BEZHENAR (UKR)
SILVER: Ayan TURSYN (KAZ)
BRONZE: Mukhlisa NABIJONOVA (UZB)

57kg
GOLD: Viktoriia SYNIAVINA SERHIIENKO (UKR) df. Anastasiia HOLINKO (UKR), 10-8

BRONZE: Lorenza SONGTHIANG (IND) df. Shokhida RAKHIMOVA (UZB), via forfeit

61kg
GOLD: Khilola SOBIROVA (UZB)
SILVER: Gulmira AZATBEK (KAZ)
BRONZE: Diana HRYHORENKO (UKR)

65kg
GOLD: Daria CHIBISOVA (UKR) df. Florika LUCHYCH (UKR), 5-1

BRONZE: Esmira MAMMADOVA (AZE) df. Dana YERMAGAMBETOVA (KAZ), 17-11

70kg
GOLD: Amina NAKOPIUK (UKR) 
SILVER: Aikorik KUANDYKOVA (KAZ)
BRONZE: Yogita KHADE (IND)

75kg
GOLD: Kateryna STEPANOVA SHAKALOVA (UKR) df. Dinara ORALBAY (KAZ), 14-4

80kg
GOLD: Olena SUSHKO (UKR) df. Mereke ZHUNUSSOVA (KAZ), 14-8

+80kg
GOLD: Kundias SAGINDYKOVA (KAZ) df. Aru JANGUTINOVA (KAZ), via forfiet

Men's Traditional

57kg
GOLD: Vitalii YAKYMENKO (UKR)
SILVER: Yerbolat SHORA (KAZ)
BRONZE: Viacheslav VASEICHUK (UKR)

62kg
GOLD: Dmytro BARANOV (UKR)
SILVER: Alibi IDIRIS (KAZ)
BRONZE: Perdekhan SHYNDALIYEV (KAZ)

66kg
GOLD: Koshen AKANOV (KAZ) df. Ali Allahverdi GULIYEV (AZE), 12-0

BRONZE: Umedjon ESHMURODOV (UZB) df. Ruslan SARIYEV (KAZ), 8-8

71kg
GOLD: Daniyar KOISHYBEK (KAZ)
SILVER: Oleksandr HULIAIEV (UZB)
BRONZE: Iman AGHAPOUR (IRI)

77kg
GOLD: Adilbek KAIRGALI (KAZ)
SILVER: Olzhas YESKARAYEV (KAZ)
BRONZE: Illia SUKHODIEIEV (UKR)

84kg
GOLD: Kyrylo HOROBETS (UKR) df. Andrei CIUBOTARU (MDA), 7-1

BRONZE: Akramjon DUSIMBAYEV (UZB) df. Turkman MAMMADLI (AZE), 4-2
BRONZE: Vadym ZHUKOV (UKR) df. Batyrzhan SEITKHAL (KAZ), via forfeit

92kg
GOLD: Nurtas ZHUMAGAZYULY (KAZ) df. Yuriy TITORENKO (KAZ), via submission

BRONZE: Andrii ROMANIUK (UKR) df. Danial LARI (IRI), via defualt

100kg
GOLD: Yurii CHYZHEVSKYI (UKR)
SILVER: Konstantin LI (KGZ)
BRONZE: Nurlan NURSEITOV (KAZ)

+100kg
GOLD: Oleksandr PYSANKO (UKR)
SILVER: Manarbek SHAIKHENOV (KAZ)
BRONZE: Meirzhan KOZHANTAYEV (KAZ)

Women's Traditional

50kg
GOLD: Polina TUMAYEVA (KAZ) df. Aidyn ABDIBAY (KAZ), 11-5

53kg
GOLD: Anna BEZHENAR (UKR) df. Ayan TURSYN (KAZ), 12-0

57kg
GOLD: Anastasiia HOLINKO (UKR) df. Viktoriia SYNIAVINA SERHIIENKO (UKR), via cautions

BRONZE: Zhuldyzay IBRAYEVA (KAZ) df. Lorenza SONGTHIANG (IND), 8-2

61kg
GOLD: Diana HRYHORENKO (UKR)
SILVER: Gulmira AZATBEK (KAZ)
BRONZE: Akzhunis UTEGENOVA (KAZ)

65kg
GOLD: Meruyert IBRAYEVA (KAZ) df. Daria CHIBISOVA (UKR), 14-12

BRONZE: Florika LUCHYCH (UKR) df. Esmira MAMMADOVA (AZE), 13-7

70kg
GOLD: Amina NAKOPIUK (UKR)
SILVER: Aikorik KUANDYKOVA (KAZ)
BRONZE: Moldir UAKHITKYZY (KAZ)

75kg
GOLD: Kateryna STEPANOVA SHAKALOVA (UKR)
SILVER: Shakhnoza FAIZULLAYEVA (KAZ)
BRONZE: Aizhan ANARBAY (KAZ)

80kg
GOLD: Olena SUSHKO (UKR) df. Mereke ZHUNUSSOVA (KAZ), 13-1

+80kg
GOLD: Kundias SAGINDYKOVA (KAZ) df. Aisulu ARYSTANOVA (KAZ), 16-4

#WrestleNoviSad

U23 World Championships 2025 Day 7 Highlights

Sunday, October 26, 2025 - 09:54 By Vinay Siwach

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NOVI SAD, Serbia (October 26) -- The U23 World Championships will see only Freestyle action on day seven. Four weight classes till semifinals are -- 61kg, 65kg, 86kg and 97kg.

WATCH LIVE | LIVE MATCH ORDER | DAY 6 RESULTS

14:40: A clash between Arash YOSHIDA (JPN) and Abolfazl BABALOO (IRI) at 97kg. Babaloo began well but Yoshida with his high-paced wrestling has Babaloo in all sorts of trouble. Yoshida was trying to pin Babaloo but referees called a foul. Iran challenged for a singlet foul but there was none. Yoshida led 5-2 after that review. He then scored two stepouts and three takedowns to win 13-2

14:30: SUJEET (IND) takes out Bashir MAGOMEDOV (UWW) at 65kg. He was put on the clock twice and was down 2-0. But he finally got a point when Magomedov was put on the clock. Sujeet hit a low single to make it 3-2 before he scored a stepout to seal a spot in the semifinal with a 4-2 win.

14:15: Technical superiority 12-0 win for Yuto NISHIUCHI (JPN) over Andranik AVETISYAN (ARM) as he moves into the 65kg semifinals. Nishiuchi does seem to struggle a little bit with his conditioning. Will be a factor in the semifinals? 

14:05: Arsen BALAIAN (UWW) gets the best of Ali TCOKAEV (AZE) in a heated 86kg bout. Balaian scored a takedown and point for activity in the second period to lead 3-1. He then forced Tcokaev a stepout before countering Tcokaev's desperate attack to score two points and win 6-1

13:55: Umidjon JALALOV (UZB), world bronze medalist in Zagreb, crafts three takedowns in his 6-1 victory over Aykhan ABDULLAZADA (AZE) and advance to the semifinals at 65.

13:50: Jaxen FORREST (USA) opens his 61kg campaign with a 13-0 masterful victory over Vasile MARCU (MDA). High-schooler Forrest missed out on a medal in Zagreb, losing a thriller in his bronze-medal bout

13:40: Abolfazl RAHMANI (IRI) downs Rocco WELSH (USA) 7-4 at 86kg. Welsh hit a big four pointer to lead 6-4 but Iran challenged the call. On review, the four points were awarded to Rahmani as he hit countered the double-leg attack. Both exchange stepout but Rahmani wins the bout.

13:05: Bashir MAGOMEDOV (UWW) with some crafty wrestling to sail through Yasin REZAEI (IRI) at 65kg. He also got a four-pointer in that 11-0 win. Magomedov is two-time U23 world champion at 61kg.

13:00: A point for activity point and a takedown for Umidjon JALOLOV (UZB) for a 3-0 but Mykyta HONCHAROV (UKR) hits a takedown with 26 seconds left to make it 3-2. Jalalov defends that lead to win at 65kg.

12:40: Abolfazl RAHMANI (IRI) needed two dramatic attacks in the final 25 seconds to win against Ahmet YAGAN (TUR) at 86kg. Down 3-1, Rahmani hit a takedown on the edge which was awarded one point for stepout after challenge, but he got an attack with 10 seconds left which was exposure two points and he won 4-3. Turkiye challenged the call but this time lost the challenge.

12:30: SUJEET (IND) with his second technical superiority win at 65kg. He scores five takedowns and one stepout to beat Dominik JAGUSZ (POL), 11-0.

12:25: Rakhim MAGAMADOV (FRA) falls to Eugeniu MIHALCEAN (MDA). Magamodov looked completely off color in his 7-4 loss at 86kg.

12:15: Arsen BALAIAN (UWW) and Gabriele NICCOLINI (ITA) had a little heated moment in their 86kg bout. Balaian was clearly the superior wrestler as he wins 10-0 and advance at 86kg. Balaian helps Niccolini off the mat and it's all good

11:45: Defending 97kg champion Rizabek AITMUKHAN (KAZ) takes his own time but starts off with an 11-1 victory over Ibrahim BENEKLI (TUR) at 97kg. The match is followed by world bronze medalist Arash YOSHIDA (JPN) finishing with a 10-0 victory over Musza ARSUNKAEV (HUN).

11:25: Bilol SHARIP UULU (KGZ) takes out U20 world champion at 61kg Marcus BLAZE (USA) at 65kg. Sharip Uulu scored a takedown to lead 3-1 and Blaze had to score a takedown to win. He managed to only score a stepout. He also challenged for a singlet pull but it was ruled that Sharip Uulu got his fingers stuck in stimulation and did not stop any attack. The lost challenge made it 4-2, the winning score of Sharip Uulu

11:05: SUJEET (IND) gives up the first takedown but then launches a spree of attacks to finish the bout 12-2 against Fiodor CEAVDARI (MDA) and advance at 65kg.

10:50: Two-time U20 world champion Yuto NISHIUCHI (JPN) begins his U23 career with a 10-0 win over Ryan DAHCHA (CAN) at 65kg. Nishiuchi is the favorite to win the gold medal here

10:40: World U23 champion Abolfazl RAHMANI (IRI) was challenged by ASHISH (IND) in his first bout at 86kg but he scores two exposures for four points which gives him 6-4 lead which he defends in the second period and win.

10:25: After the early repechage rounds, the qualifications of the four Freestyle weights are underway here. If you are wondering why there is a time change for the start of the competition, the daylight saving have commenced in Europe.