USA, Azerbaijan Finish 2-0 on Day 1 of Freestyle World Cup

Saturday, April 7, 2018 - 23:12 By United World Wrestling Press

IOWA CITY (April 7) - The United States of America freestyle wrestling team, led by Olympic champions Kyle SNYDER and Jordan BURROUGHS, fed off the home crowd on the opening day of the Freestyle World Cup, picking up two convincing victories.

USA opened the two-day competition with a 10-0 shutout over India in the Saturday morning session. The Americans outscored their opposition 54-3 in the dual meet and registered seven technical falls.

In the afternoon session, USA faced a hungry Japan team fresh off beating Georgia 7-3. The dual meet opened with a rematch of last year's gold-medal match at 57kg between Yuki TAKAHASHI (JPN) and Thomas GILMAN (USA). Gilman scored first off a passivity in the opening period, but Takahashi scored two takedowns in the final 1:30 to take the victory, 4-1.

Japan rode the momentum created by Takahashi to get victories at 61kg and 65kg by Kazuya KOYANAGI and Takuto OTOGURO respectively to grab a 3-0 lead. Otoguro's victory came over 2016 world champion Logan STIEBER, 10-5.

James GREEN, a two-time world medalist, stopped the bleeding for the Americans as he held on to defeat Kirin KINOSHITA 8-5. Green led 6-0 early in the match, but Kinoshita battled back to keep it competitive.

But it was all USA the rest of the way. Burroughs (74kg), Kyle DAKE (79kg), David TAYLOR (86kg), J'den COX (92kg), Snyder (97kg) and Nick GWIAZDOWSKI (125 kg) claimed victories to give USA a 7-3 victory over Japan.

Burroughs, a four-time world champion and 2012 Olympic champion, improved his Freestyle World Cup record to 25-0 with his two victories on Saturday.

"I've wrestled in a lot of World Cups, but I've never been a part of a team that's won it," Burroughs said. "I really want to win this thing. Our team is competing at a high level. It’s our time. I don’t think there is anybody in the world that can compete with what we’ve got going on right now."

USA is looking to capture its 14th Freestyle World Cup title, but first since 2003.

In Pool B, Azerbaijan finished 2-0 on the opening day of the Freestyle Cup.

In arguably the most anticipated dual meet of the morning session, Azerbaijan dominated Cuba, winning eight of 10 matches. Azerbaijan opened with victories at 57kg and 61kg. Alejandro VALDES TOBIER (CUB) picked up perhaps the most impressive win of the day, earning a fall over three-time world champ Haji ALIYEV (AZE) at 65kg. The Cuban had built an 8-2 lead prior to the fall.

After Valdes Tobier's victory, Azerbaijan claimed victories in six of the final seven matches to win the dual meet 8-2.

Azerbaijan followed up its victory over Cuba with a 9-1 win over Kazakhstan.

Wrestling is scheduled to begin at 10 a.m. CT on Sunday. The bronze-medal match is slated for 2:15 p.m., while the gold-medal match is set for 4 p.m.

Saturday Results

10 a.m.
USA 10, India 0
Mongolia 6, Kazakhstan 4

11:15 a.m.
Japan 7, Georgia 3
Azerbaijan 8, Cuba 2

2:30 p.m.
USA 7, Japan 3

4:30 p.m.
Cuba 7, Mongolia 3

5:45 p.m.
Georgia 8, India 2
Azerbaijan 9, Kazakhstan 1

Pool A:
USA 2-0
Japan 1-1
Georiga 1-1
India 0-2

Pool B:
Azerbaijan 2-0
Cuba 1-1
Mongolia 1-1
Kazakhstan 0-2

Sunday Schedule

10 a.m. - 6 p.m. - Session III
10 a.m. - USA vs. Georgia on Mat A, Mongolia vs. Azerbaijan on Mat B
11:15 a.m. - Japan vs. India on Mat A, Cuba vs. Kazakhstan on Mat B
12:30 p.m. - 5th Place Match at Mat A, 7th Place Match on Mat B
2:15 p.m. - Bronze Medal Match on Mat A
4 p.m. - Gold Medal Match on Mat A

2026 U23 European Championships

Perfect Russia Puts Five Wrestlers in Finals at U23 Euros

Tuesday, March 10, 2026 - 00:24 By Vinay Siwach

ZRENJANIN, Serbia (March 9) -- Five wrestlers took the mat for Russia on day one of the U23 European Championships in Zrenjanin, Serbia on Monday and all five reached the final.

The first continental championships of 2026 began with Freestyle competition in 57kg, 65kg, 70kg, 79kg and 97kg at the Kristalna Dvorana Arena and Russia emerged as the best team.

Led by Takhir KHANIEV (RUS), fresh off his win against world champion Kyle SNYDER (USA) in Tirana, Russian wrestlers dominated on their way to the finals, to be played Tuesday.

Khaniev, a U23 world silver medalist at 92kg, wrestled former U17 world champion Konstantine PETRIASHVILI (GEO) in the semifinals and won 14-4, his second victory via technical superiority of the day.

Petriashvili scored the first point when he blocked a throw from Khaniev and got two points. He then scored exposure points during an exchange to lead 4-2. But Khaniev managed to push Petriashvili and eventually broke the Georgian to complete the victory.

He will face former U20 European champion Ivan PRYMACHENKO (UKR) for the gold medal after the Ukrainian defeated Zafar ALIYEV (AZE), 6-2. Prymachenko never seemed in danger of losing the bout against Aliyev.

Ismail KHANIEV (RUS) will wrestle for the 79kg gold medal. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kostadin Andonov)

Khaniev's brother Ismail also made it to the final at 79kg after he outscored his opponents 30-0 in three bouts. He led 9-0 in his semifinal against Mateusz PEDZICKI (POL) before the Poland wrestler complained of a shoulder injury that forced him to abandon the semifinal.

For the gold medal, Khaniev will face Sabuhi AMIRASLANOV (AZE) who secured a close 4-1 victory over Giorgi GOGRITCHIANI (GEO) in the other semifinal.

Defending champion at 70kg Magomed ELTEMIROV (RUS) booked a final against U20 world silver medalist Alexandr GAIDARLI (MDA) after the two dominated their way to the final.

Eltermirov scored a 11-0 victory over Marcel WAGIN (GER) while Gaidarli managed to beat Mykyta SARIIEV (UKR), 10-0, in the semifinals. Both are yet to give up a point in the tournament so far.

Magomedkhan MAGAMEDKHANOV (BLR) squares off against Arman MUSIKYAN (ARM) in the 65kg semifinals. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kostadin Andonov)

In a battle of U20 world bronze medalists at 65kg, Magomedkhan MAGAMEDKHANOV (BLR) defeated Arman MUSIKYAN (ARM), 9-6, and enter the final against Dzhambulat KIZINOV (RUS).

Magamedkhanov fell behind 2-0 early in the bout before he closed the gap to 4-3 at the break. In the second period, he scored from a front chest-wrap twice to lead 7-4. When he attempted it for the third time, Musikyan blocked it and scored two points to cut the lead to 7-6.

The Armenian was close to scoring a takedown which would have given him the lead but Magamedkhanov scrambled out of the hold and countered Musikyan for a takedown in the final 10 seconds to win 9-6.

Kizinov was in more control of his semifinal against Viktor BOROHAN (UKR), blanking the Ukrainian 6-0. He scored a point when Borohan was put on the activity clock before a stepout made his lead 2-0. A takedown and turn made it 6-0 before the break. No points were scored in the second period as the Russian entered the final.

Vasif BAGHIROV (AZE) will wrestle for the 57kg gold medal. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kostadin Andonov)

At 57kg, former U17 world champion Vasif BAGHIROV (AZE) will face Aiandai ONDAR (RUS) for the gold medal.

Baghirov, with his stealthy defense, kept Nikoloz BOTCHRISHVILI (GEO) at a distance and led 3-1 with 15 seconds to go. But the Georgian managed to hit a single-leg takedown and dump him outside the zone. However, it was scored only one point for Botchrishvili.

Georgia challenged the call but lost it to add one more point to Baghirov's score. A late takedown sealed his 6-2 victory.

Ondar took 56 seconds to beat Artsiom PAULIUCHENKA (BLR), 10-0, using a trap-arm gut.

RESULTS

57kg
GOLD: Vasif BAGHIROV (AZE) vs. Aiandai ONDAR (RUS)

SF 1: Vasif BAGHIROV (AZE) df. Nikoloz BOTCHORISHVILI (GEO), 6-2
SF 2: Aiandai ONDAR (RUS) df. Artsiom PAULIUCHENKA (BLR), 10-0

65kg
GOLD: Magomedkhan MAGAMEDKHANOV (BLR) vs. Dzhambulat KIZINOV (RUS)

SF 1: Magomedkhan MAGAMEDKHANOV (BLR) df. Arman MUSIKYAN (ARM), 9-6
SF 2: Dzhambulat KIZINOV (RUS) df. Viktor BOROHAN (UKR), 6-0

70kg
GOLD: Magomed ELTEMIROV (RUS) vs. Alexandr GAIDARLI (MDA)

SF 1: Magomed ELTEMIROV (RUS) df. Marcel WAGIN (GER), 11-0
SF 2: Alexandr GAIDARLI (MDA) df. Mykyta SARIIEV (UKR), 10-0

79kg
GOLD: Ismail KHANIEV (RUS) vs. Sabuhi AMIRASLANOV (AZE)

SF 1: Ismail KHANIEV (RUS) df. Mateusz PEDZICKI (POL), via inj. def. (9-0)
SF 2: Sabuhi AMIRASLANOV (AZE) df. Giorgi GOGRITCHIANI (GEO), 4-1

97kg
GOLD: Ivan PRYMACHENKO (UKR) vs. Takhir KHANIEV (RUS)

SF 1: Ivan PRYMACHENKO (UKR) df. Zafar ALIYEV (AZE), 6-2
SF 2: Takhir KHANIEV (RUS) df. Konstantine PETRIASHVILI (GEO), 14-4

USA, Azerbaijan Finish 2-0 on Day 1 of Freestyle World Cup

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Perfect Russia Puts Five Wrestlers in Finals at U23 Euros