USA push three into Tuesday's U20 world finals

Monday, August 15, 2022 - 19:24 By Vinay Siwach

SOFIA, Bulgaria (August 15) -- Perhaps it is the James GREEN effect. The USA, which won the freestyle team title at the U17 World Championships two weeks ago, continued its dream run under coach Green and emerged as the best team on day one of the U20 World Championships on Monday.

Green took over the coach just a month ago and is aiming to win the second team title in as many World Championships.

After entering four wrestlers in the semifinals, the USA managed to send three wrestlers to Tuesday's gold medal bouts. Azerbaijan was the next best team with two finalists. Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Armenia and Turkey were the five other countries that managed to have a wrestler each in the final.

All three of the USA wrestlers used their high-paced wrestling to win after trailing initially in the semifinal.

Jore VOLK (USA) reached the 57kg final after beating Luka GVINJILIA (GEO) 13-6. (Photo: UWW / Kostadin Andonov)

At 57kg, Jore VOLK (USA) had to do it more than once. Wrestling Ahmad JAVAN (IRI) in the opening bout, Volk led 3-3 on criteria at the break and added another takedown to lead 5-3. But Javan, who was one win away from making the Iran senior World Championships team, took the criteria lead with 36 seconds left on the clock. He then tried defending it but Volk managed to put Javan's on the mat just before the final whistle to win 7-5.

In the semifinals, Luka GVINJILIA (GEO) opened with exposure but Volk with a takedown to lead 2-2 on criteria at the break. He upped the pace in the second and began with a takedown and Gvijilia was cautioned for fleeing. The bout restarted in par terre from which Volk made it 13-4. But it was too late for Gvijilia as he lost 13-6.

Volk will now wrestle U20 Asian champion Merey BAZARBAYEV (KAZ) as he defeated Heorhii KAZANZHY (UKR), 6-4, in a back-and-forth semifinal. Kazanzhy opened up a 4-0 lead with two exposures when Bazarbayev was trying to chest wrap Kazanzhy.

But the Kazakhstan wrestler, who defeated Abhishek DHAKA (IND) 5-1 in the quarterfinal, scored a takedown and a lace to lead 4-4. With the time running out, Bazarbayev continued his attacks and ultimately got the single leg to lead 6-4. He defended it for the final 47 seconds.

In another USA-Georgia semifinal, Benjamin KUETER (USA) made the gold medal bout after a 31-point slugfest against Luka KHUTCHUA (GEO) at 97kg.

Kueter came back from an 8-0 deficit after Khutchua scored a go-behind and rolled him thrice. He answered with a go-behind and then an arm-trap exposure to cut the lead to 8-4. The bout tilted in Kueter's favor when he managed to take a 9-9 criteria lead at the break against a tiring Khutchua.

The second period saw Kueter more attacks and he made it 15-10 before Khutchua managed a takedown and gut. While going for the second gut, Khutchua lost the grip and Kueter held in danger for the final 35 seconds to win 17-14.

Rifat GIDAK (TUR) put on a defensive masterclass to beat Amirali AZARPIRA (IRI) in the 97kg semifinal. (Photo: UWW / Kostadin Andonov)

He will now have the rising star and '21 U17 world champion Rifat GIDAK (TUR) who stunned U20 Asian champion Amirali AZARPIRA (IRI), 6-4 in the semifinal.

After a slow start to the bout, Gidak opened the second period with a duck under to lead 2-1. A stepout and caution against Azarpira extended his lead to 4-1. Azarpira found it difficult to remain at the same pace as Gidak and conceded a counter takedown.

Though he got hold of Gidak on a couple of occasions, Azarpira could not convert them into takedowns. It was only late in the bout that he scored two stepouts but it was too little too late.

The third USA wrestler to reach the final was Mitchell MESENBRINK (USA) as he defeated Hayk PAPIKYAN (ARM), 6-3, in the semifinal after being down 3-0. As the second period began, he strung together three takedowns and ended the bout 6-3.

Kanan HEYBATOV (AZE) come back from 3-0 deficit to beat Mulaym YADAV (IND) 5-3 in the 70kg semifinal. (Photo: UWW / Kadir Caliskan)

The other semifinal followed a similar script with Kanan HEYBATOV (AZE) winning it 5-3 against Mulaym YADAV (IND) after being behind 3-0 at the break.

Heybatov got a single leg to score a takedown at the edge after Azerbaijan challenged the neutral call. With just 18 seconds left, Heybatov managed to get a stepout and the lead.

Yadav almost scored a takedown over Heybatov but referees called it neutral as both wrestlers were grounded when going out of the zone. India challenged the call and on review, Heybatov was awarded a stepout and one more point for the lost challenge.

U20 Asian champion Sobhan YARI (IRI) reached the 79kg final in Sofia. (Photo: UWW / Kadir Caliskan)

Iran and Armenia clash for the 79kg gold after Sobhan YARI (IRI) and Mushegh MKRTCHYAN (ARM) made it to the final.

Yari ended the hopes of a finalist for Georgia as he defeated Otari ADEISHVILI (GEO), 9-6, in a close encounter. He led 5-4 at the break but Adeishvili scored a takedown to lead 6-4. But Yari got the better of Adeishvili as the Georgian began to feel the heat of Yari's attack.

Mushegh MKRTCHYAN (ARM) will try to spot Yari from winning the gold after he made the final with a narrow 2-2 win over Mukhammad ABDULLAEV (KGZ).

The match was all but over with Abdullaev leading 2-0 with 20 seconds remaining. But Mkrtchyan found a final boost of energy and scored a takedown with 15 seconds remaining to win.

Ziraddin BAYRAMOV (AZE) defeated Sujeet KALKAL (IND) to reach his second straight U20 Worlds final. (Photo: UWW / Kostadin Andonov)

At 65kg, returning silver medalist Ziraddin BAYRAMOV (AZE) will try to upgrade his medal from Ufa after he handed Sujeet KALKAL (IND) his first international defeat in the semifinal.

Bayramov seemed to have studied Kalkal's style of wrestling with underhooks and snapdowns and did not engage in any scrambles. Instead of allowing Kalkal to control the bout, Bayramov countered with single-leg attacks.

He scored the first two via steptous before blasting a double-leg for another takedown and lead 6-0. He went into a defensive mode in the second period but still managed to keep Kalkal from attacking. A late takedown gave the Indian two consolation points.

Bayramov will have to come up with another top performance if he wants to win the final against former U17 world champion Umidjon JALOLOV (UZB).

Jalolov will be looking to make amends from last year's World Championships in which he finished 10th after suffering a 6-6 loss to Abulfaz NASIROV (AZE) in his opening bout.

But in Sofia, he outscored his opponents 30-2 in the three bouts before the semifinal in which he faced Robert CORNELLA (USA) who reached the last four after scoring a final second takedown against Mohammad Reza SHAKERI (IRI) to win 6-5.

Jalolov was up 2-0 after two passivity calls against Cornella and he then scored a cradle exposure with an ankle pick to lead 4-0 and win the bout.

The remaining five freestyle weight classes will be in action on Tuesday along with the medal bouts of Monday's weights.

RESULTS

57kg
GOLD: Jore VOLK (USA) vs. Merey BAZARBAYEV (KAZ)

SF 1: Jore VOLK (USA) df. Luka GVINJILIA (GEO), 13-6
SF 2: Merey BAZARBAYEV (KAZ) df. Heorhii KAZANZHY (UKR), 6-4

65kg
GOLD: Umidjon JALOLOV (UZB) vs. Ziraddin BAYRAMOV (AZE)

SF 1: Umidjon JALOLOV (UZB) df. Robert CORNELLA (USA), 4-0
SF 2: Ziraddin BAYRAMOV (AZE) df. SUJEET (IND), 6-2

70kg
GOLD: Mitchell MESENBRINK (USA) vs Kanan HEYBATOV (AZE)

SF 1: Mitchell MESENBRINK (USA) df. Hayk PAPIKYAN (ARM), 6-3
SF 2: Kanan HEYBATOV (AZE) df. Mulaym YADAV (IND), 5-3

79kg
GOLD: Sobhan YARI (IRI) vs. Mushegh MKRTCHYAN (ARM)

SF 1: Sobhan YARI (IRI) df. Otari ADEISHVILI (GEO), 9-6
SF 2: Mushegh MKRTCHYAN (ARM) df. Mukhammad ABDULLAEV (KGZ), 2-2

97kg
GOLD: Benjamin KUETER (USA) vs. Rifat GIDAK (TUR)

SF 1: Benjamin KUETER (USA) df. Luka KHUTCHUA (GEO), 17-14
SF 2: Rifat GIDAK (TUR) df. Amirali AZARPIRA (IRI), 6-4

#WrestleBratislava

Baev marks international return with European gold

Tuesday, April 8, 2025 - 19:51 By Vinay Siwach

BRATISLAVA, Slovakia (April 8) -- David BAEV (UWW) began his international career in Slovakia when he won the cadet [U17] world gold medal in 2014 in Snina, a small town in west Slovakia. Who would have thought that Baev's long awaited international return will also be in the same country.

Baev returned to Slovakia after 11 years, ending his six-year absence from international competitions, winning the gold medal at 70kg at the European Championships, his first-ever.

"Honestly, I’ve been waiting for this moment for a very long time, and I enjoyed every second of it," Baev said after the final "I’ve so badly wanted to see those blue and purple banners from UWW Worlds and Europeans [respectively]."

David BAEV (UWW) at the podium of the U17 World Championships in 2014. (Photo: United World Wrestling)

The 28-year-old last competed internationally at the 2019 World Championships in Astana where he won the 70kg gold medal. He tried moving to the 74kg weight class with a hope to make Olympic but with little success.

He moved back to 70kg and began winning again. On Tuesday, despite his long layoff from international scene, Baev hardly made it look like he was away for long.

David BAEV (UWW) wrestles Arman ANDREASYAN (ARM) in the 70kg final at the European Championships in Bratislava. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kostadin Andonov)

Baev denied Arman ANDREASYAN (ARM) his second straight title at 70kg, beating the Armenian 4-1 in the final at his first international competition since winning the gold medal at the 2019 World Championships.

The first point of the bout was from Andreasyan's passivity and Baev scored a takedown in the second period for a 3-0 lead. A stepout made it 4-0 before he gave up a stepout for one point.

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Baev celebrated winning his gold medal by spreading his arms and looking up to the skies with a sigh of relief. He later said that he did the same celebration when he won the gold in 2014 and decided to stay with the that celebration since then.

"My first victory where I celebrated was 11 years ago, also in Slovakia," he said. "Since then, after every win — and even after losses — I do the same celebration."

He recalled his first visit to Slovakia in 2014 and called the country in which he only has good memories.

"I was 16 years old when I traveled abroad for the first time — it was Slovakia," he said. "My first international competition [U17 Worlds], at 58 kilograms. I won, so I have only good memories of Slovakia. I have friends here, and some of my close friends even compete for the Slovak national team. I’ve visited them here, stayed with them."

David BAEV (UWW) on the podium after receiving his gold medal at the European Championships. (Photo: Untied World Wrestling / Kostadin Andonov)

Baev wore a "Buvaisar SAITIEV" tee shirt after his bouts and dedicated his gold medal to the three-time Olympic champion who passed away in March aged 49.

"Saitiev is a legendary wrestler," he said. "His name has practically become symbolic. It’s like when someone talks about basketball, they mention Jordan. Or when it’s football, they bring up Ronaldo or Maradona. In wrestling, it’s Saitiev. What he showed on the mat… no one has ever shown before, and probably no one ever will."

Remembering Saitiev, Baev said he met Saitiev once when he was four years old. However, he never got a chance to meet him again.

"I actually met him once as a kid," he said. "My father’s friends took me to the Akhmat Kadyrov Memorial tournament. I was very young, but I remember sitting at the same table with him — I even have a photo.

"Honestly, I’ve always wanted to ask him if he remembers that little boy sitting at the table with him in that café… But sadly, I never got the chance."

Baev was not the only one wearing the Saitiev shirt. Three other "UWW" wrestler won gold on Tuesday and dedicated their medals to Saitiev.

Nachyn MONGUSH (UWW), blue, defends against Azamat TUSKAEV (SRB) in the 57kg. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kostandin Andonov)

At 57kg, Nachyn MONGUSH (UWW) earned his first-ever European gold medal after he defeated Azamat TUSKAEV (SRB), 7-4, a closely contested final.

Tuskaev, hoping to become Serbia's first-ever European champion in Freestyle, fell behind early with a point for his passivity and then a stepout. Mongush added a takedown to make it 4-0.

With time running out, Tuskaev made desperate attempts and got two for a takedown. A scramble was awarded two points each with Mongush still leading 6-4. In the final 10 seconds, Tuskaev was about to score a go-behind but Mongush blocked him and secured the win and his first-ever European gold.

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France was looking for its first Freestyle European champion as it had two finalists on Tuesday but the drought is set to continue as both wrestlers failed to cross the hurdle to win gold.

At 65kg, Khamzat ARSAMERZOUEV (FRA) suffered a 3-0 defeat to Ibragim IBRAGIMOV (UWW) who had a dominant run to the gold medal. Ibragimov's win was similar to his 6-2 win over Arsamerzouev in the 2024 European U23 Championships final.

Arsamerzouev was hit with a passivity call in the first period and he failed to score, giving Ibragimov a 1-0 lead. While the French wrestler did make some inroads in the second period, Ibragimov managed to score a takedown for a 3-0 lead.

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Two-time European silver medalist Zelimkhan KHADJIEV (FRA) will have to wait for his gold medal as former world champion Akhmed USMANOV (UWW) posted a 9-1 win in the 79kg final which also included a massive front headlock throw for four.

Usmanov now has back-to-back European gold medals while Khadjiev has third silver as had finished with silver medals at the 2018 and 2019 European Championships.

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Matcharashvili hat-trick

Givi MATCHARASHVILI (GEO) completed a hat-trick of European gold medals after he defeated Magomed KURBANOV (UWW) in the 97kg final.

Maintaining his perfect record of wins at European Championships, Matcharashvili pulled out his signature move of front headpinch and scored two points against Kurbanov to win 3-2, making a comeback after giving up a activity clock point and a stepout.

"This European Championships is important for me," Matcharashvili said. "I am a three-time champion now. I love wrestling and wrestling is my life."

Asked about his comeback against Kurbanov using a front chest wrap throw to take the lead, Matcharashvili said he knows that he will aways win that position

"This is my personal move," he said. "When I am in this position, 100 percent I will win the points."

Last year after winning the gold in Bucharest, Romania, Matcharashvili called out all 97kg wrestlers. This year, he was more humble in his message.

"The message is the same." he said. "This is my job and I am ready for every, anytime. When I am standing on the podium with our flag going up, that's what matters."

Matcharashvili's third gold puts him tied second the list of Georgians with most European titles in Freestyle with Rio 2016 Olympic champion Vladimir KHINCHEGASHVILI (GEO).

Eldar KURTANIDZE (GEO) still holds the record of most European titles for Georgia in Freestyle with five which he won in 1996, 1997, 1998, 2001 and 2005.

RESULTS

Freestyle

57kg
GOLD: Nachyn MONGUSH (UWW) df. Azamat TUSKAEV (SRB), 7-4

BRONZE: Islam BAZARGANOV (AZE) df. Ivaylo TISOV (BUL), 12-2
BRONZE: Aryian TIUTRIN (UWW) df. Niklas STECHELE (GER), 4-1

65kg
GOLD: Ibragim IBRAGIMOV (UWW) df. Khamzat ARSAMERZOUEV (FRA), 3-0

BRONZE: Vazgen TEVANYAN (ARM) df. Goga OTINASHVILI (GEO), via forfeit
BRONZE: Ali RAHIMZADA (AZE) df. Andrii SVYRYD (UKR), 4-0

70kg
GOLD: David BAEV (UWW) df. Arman ANDREASYAN (ARM), 4-1

BRONZE: Akaki KEMERTELIDZE (GEO) df. Oleksii BORUTA (UKR), 6-2
BRONZE: Kanan HEYBATOV (AZE) df. Iszmail MUSZUKAJEV (HUN), 5-2

79kg
GOLD: Akhmed USMANOV (UWW) df. Zelimkhan KHADJIEV (FRA), 9-1

BRONZE: Akhsarbek GULAEV (SVK) df. Ion MARCU (MDA), 3-0
BRONZE: Vladimeri GAMKRELIDZE (GEO) df. Mohammad MOTTAGHINIA (ESP), 4-1

97kg
GOLD: Givi MATCHARASHVILI (GEO) df. Magomed KURBANOV (UWW), 3-2

BRONZE: Richard VEGH (HUN) df. Radoslaw BARAN (POL), 10-6
BRONZE: Batyrbek TSAKULOV (SVK) df. Radu LEFTER (MDA), 11-0

Semifinals

61kg
GOLD: Arsen HARUTYUNYAN (ARM) vs. Zavur UGUEV (UWW)

SF 1: Arsen HARUTYUNYAN (ARM) df. Zelimkhan ABAKAROV (ALB), 5-2
SF 2: Zavur UGUEV (UWW) df. Dzmitry SHAMELA (UWW), 10-0

74kg
GOLD: Chermen VALIEV (ALB) vs. Zaurbek SIDAKOV (UWW)

SF 1: Chermen VALIEV (ALB) df. Aghanazar NOVRUZOV (AZE), 6-0
SF 2: Zaurbek SIDAKOV (UWW) df. Murad KURAMAGOMEDOV (HUN), 2-0

86kg
GOLD: Magomed RAMAZANOV (BUL) vs. Mahamedkhabib KADZIMAHAMEDAU (UWW)

SF 1: Magomed RAMAZANOV (BUL) df. Sebastian JEZIERZANSKI (POL), via fall (9-0)
SF 2: Mahamedkhabib KADZIMAHAMEDAU (UWW) df. Artur NAIFONOV (UWW), 6-3

92kg
GOLD: Osman NURMAGOMEDOV (AZE) vs. Dauren KURUGLIEV (GRE)

SF 1: Osman NURMAGOMEDOV (AZE) df. Miriani MAISURADZE (GEO), 5-2
SF 2: Dauren KURUGLIEV (GRE) df. Feyzullah AKTURK (TUR), 3-3

125kg
GOLD: Giorgi MESHVILDISHVILI (AZE) vs. Solomon MANASHVILI (GEO)

SF 1: Giorgi MESHVILDISHVILI (AZE) df. Dzianis KHRAMIANKOU (UWW), 8-5
SF 2: Solomon MANASHVILI (GEO) df. Kamil KOSCIOLEK (POL), 8-3

USA push three into Tuesday's U20 world finals

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Baev marks international return with European gold