USA Stars Pick up Pair of Freestyle Titles; Akgul Locks up #WrestleNurSultan Third Seed

Saturday, July 13, 2019 - 16:47 By Eric Olanowski

ISTANBUL, Turkey (July 13) --- John DIAKOMIHALIS (USA) and Alexander DIERINGER (USA) won a pair of gold medals on the third day of wrestling at the Yasar Dogu and helped the United States close Turkey’s lead to 40 points heading into the closing day of wrestling in Istanbul.

Diakomihalis, who defeated and ultimately outplaced the United States’ current world team member Zain RETHERFORD (USA), won his gold medal in anticlimactic fashion -- picking up the title after Haji ALI (BRN) forfeited out of the 65kg finals, while “Ringer” scored the 4-1 win over Akhsarbek GULAEV (SVK) in the 79kg gold-medal bout.

With his win on Saturday, Dieringer now has a pair of 2019 Ranking Series titles to his name. He also won Dan Kolov earlier this year. In addition to his pair of Ranking Series titles, Dieringer finished in third place at the Ivan Yariguin.

Dieringer’s focus now moves to August 17, when he takes on reigning world champion Kyle DAKE (USA) for the United States’ 79kg Nur-Sultan world team spot.

Olympic champion Taha AKGUL (TUR) won the 125kg gold medal and locked up the No. 3 seed at the World Championships. (Photo: Kadir Caliskan)

Olympic champion Taha AKGUL (TUR) halted Nicholas GWIAZDOWSKI'S (USA) quest to give America their third gold medal of the day – scoring the 5-1 victory in the 125kg finals.

Akgul picked up a pair of low-level takedowns and an inactivity point in the finals and locked up a top-four seed at the World Championships. The Turkish big man brought 50 Ranking Series points into Istanbul and only needed one point to ensure he was on the opposite side of the bracket at the World Championships of his nemesis Geno PETRIASHVILI (GEO). Coming into the Yasar Dogu, Taha and Russia's third-ranked Anzor KHIZRIEV were tied, but the Russian held the criteria advantage (highest World Championships placement) because of his fifth-place finish at the Budapest World Championships.

Taha broke that tie by earning 14 Ranking Series and will now be the third-seeded wrestler at the World Championships behind Petriashvili and DENG Zhiwei (CHN), who are ranked first and second, respectively.

Also of note at 125kg, Gwiazdowski claimed 12 Ranking Series points and overthrew Khizriev for the fourth seed at the World Championships. He’ll be on the top-side of the bracket in Nur-Sultan with reigning two-time world champion Geno Petriashvili.

Vinesh VINESH (IND) won the 53kg gold medal and helped Indian win their third women's wrestling title. (Photo: Kadir Caliskan)

Meanwhile, Vinesh VINESH (IND) joined fellow Indian wrestlers Seema SEEMA (IND) and Kumari MANJU (IND) in the winner’s circle after stopping Ekaterina POLESHCHUK (RUS), 9-4 in the 53kg gold-medal bout.

Vinesh put the match's first point on the board with an inactivity point but quickly fell behind after giving up a takedown. She returned the favor with a double leg and regained the lead, 3-2. The seven-time Asian medalist worked down to Poleshchuk’s ankles after a slick double-leg and leg laced three times. She commanded the 9-2 advantage after the first period.

The Indian wrestler failed to score in the second period, and conceded a takedown and a step out, but hung on to win her first Ranking Series title, 9-5. Vinesh's gold medal at the Yasar Dogu was an improvement on her placement from the Dan Kolov, where she fell in the gold-medal bout and had to settle for a silver medal.

Odunayo ADEKUOROYE (NGR) won the 57kg Yasar Dogu title and moved into the top four of the world rankings. (Photo: Kadir Caliskan)

Adekuoroye Ascends to Top-Four After Winning Gold at 57kg
Odunayo ADEKUOROYE (NGR) picked up the opening period technical superiority victory over European silver medalist, Tetyana KIT (UKR) in the 57kg finals. The Nigerian Paris world runner-up was leading 2-0 when she shot an open double and transitioned into three leg laces -- ending the match, 10-0. Unfortunately, after the third lace, Kit immediately grabbed her left laced and was grimacing in pain and had to be carried off the mat.

Adekuoroye entered the Yasar Dogu as the fifth-ranked wrestler in the world at 57kg, but after collecting the 16 first-place points, she’ll move into a top-four seed in Nur-Sultan.

Henna JOHANSSON (SWE) defeated Marianna SASTIN (HUN) and won her third Ranking Series title of the season. (Photo: Kadir Caliskan)

Johansson Wins Third Ranking Series Title; Mamashuk Outlasts Lappage in 68kg Finals
Henna JOHANSSON (SWE) won her third Ranking Series gold medal of the year with a 2-0 victory over Marianna SASTIN (HUN) in the 62kg finals, while Rio bronze medalist Maryia MAMASHUK (BLR) outlasted world runner-up Danielle LAPPAGE (CAN), 1-1 in the 68kg finals.

The final day of wrestling begins tomorrow at 12:30 (local time) and can be followed live on www.unitedworldwrestling.org.

RESULTS

Freestyle
65kg
GOLD - John DIAKOMIHALIS (USA) df. Haji Mohamad ALI (BRN), via injury default
BRONZE - Ismail MUSUKAEV (HUN) df. Ali RAHIMZADE (AZE), 8-0
BRONZE - Cengizhan ERDOGAN (TUR) df. Sonba GONGANE (IND), 10-0

79kg
GOLD - Alexander David DIERINGER (USA) df. Akhsarbek GULAEV (SVK)
BRONZE - Bahman Mohammad TEYMOURI (IRI) df. Abubakr ABAKAROV (AZE), 7-4
BRONZE - Muhammet KOTANOGLU (TUR) df. Abdulkadir OZMEN (TUR), 5-2

125kg
GOLD - Taha AKGUL (TUR) df. Nicholas Edward GWIAZDOWSKI (USA), 5-1
BRONZE - Daniel LIGETI (HUN) df. Yadollah MOHEBI (IRI), 10-1
BRONZE - Sumit SUMIT (IND) df. Fatih CAKIROGLU (TUR), via forfeit

Women’s Wrestling
53kg
GOLD - Vinesh VINESH (IND) df. Ekaterina POLESHCHUK (RUS), 9-4
BRONZE - Annika WENDLE (GER) df. Liliya HORISHNA (UKR), via fall
BRONZE - Nina HEMMER (GER) df. Iryna HUSYAK (UKR), 9-2

57kg
GOLD - Odunayo Folasade ADEKUOROYE (NGR) df. Tetyana KIT (UKR), 10-0
BRONZE - Olga KHOROSHAVTSEVA (RUS) df. Lissette ANTES CASTILLO (ECU), 4-2
BRONZE - Sandra PARUSZEWSKI (GER) df. Emese BARKA (HUN), via injury default

62kg
GOLD - Henna Katarina JOHANSSON (SWE) df. Marianna SASTIN (HUN), 2-0
BRONZE - Uliana TUKURENOVA (RUS) df. Anzhela FOMENKO (RUS), 3-1
BRONZE - Veranika IVANOVA (BLR) df. Lais NUNES DE OLIVEIRA (BRA), 9-7

68kg
GOLD - Maryia MAMASHUK (BLR) df. Danielle Suzanne LAPPAGE (CAN), 1-1
BRONZE - Blessing OBORUDUDU (NGR) df. Alina BEREZHNA STADNIK MAKHYNIA (UKR), 10-0
BRONZE - Anna Carmen SCHELL (GER) df. Rihem AYARI (TUN), via fall

#WrestleZagreb

Zagreb Open 2026 Day 5 Greco-Roman Highlights

Sunday, February 8, 2026 - 09:18 By Vinay Siwach

ZAGREB, Croatia (February 8) -- All Greco-Roman day at the Zagreb Open on Sunday with 55kg, 60kg, 72kg, 82kg, 97kg and 130kg weight classes in action. World and Olympic champion Riza KAYAALP (TUR) will be in action today after being away for 2 years.

WATCH LIVE | LIVE MATCH ORDER | DAY 4 RESULTS

15:25: 130kg semifinals - Riza KAYAALP (TUR) is back in a Ranking Series final after he beats Olzhas SYRLYBAY (KAZ), 4-0. He par terre positions in both periods and a turn the first time to lead 4-0. Syrlybay did get the third passivity which is without any points but he did not score. To capture the gold medal, Kayaalp will face Cohlton SCHULTZ (USA) who posted a 2-1 victory over Artur SARKISJAN (CZE). He got a reversal when Sarkisjan was put on top.

15:10: 97kg semifinals - Alex SZOKE (HUN) gets par terre in both the periods of his semifinals against Iussuf MATSIYEV (KAZ) to win the bout 2-0 and a place in the final. He will face another Kazakhstan wrestler in former U20 world champion Islam YEVLOYEV (KAZ) who managed to get past Mihail KAJAIA (SRB), 5-3, after a big throw from par terre in the first period. Kajaia failed to turn Yevloyev from par terre but got two points for a defensive foul.

14:55: 82kg semifinals - Mihail BRADU (MDA) blocks Reza MOKHTARI (IRI) when the Iranian was trying to turn Bradu from par terre and he gets the fall. Mokhtari is devasted. Bradu is hyped as he will wrestle for gold against Yuksel SARICICEK (TUR) who defeated Ibragim MAGOMADOV (KAZ) 4-3 after scoring two stepouts and overturn the result.

14:45: 72kg semifinals - Moustafa ALAMELDIN (EGY), former U20 world champion, beats Almatbek AMANBEK (KAZ), 8-1, and moves into the final at 72kg. He will face Nika BROLADZE (GEO) for the gold medal after the Georgian found a way to beat Shakhzod KUCHKOROV (UZB) despite being down 2-1. Both wrestlers had locked each other but then Broladze just flung Kuchkorov for two points. He continued the action and scored a suplex for four points to extend his lead to 7-2, which was also the winning score.

14:35: 60kg semifinals - Alisher GANIEV (UZB) takes 29 seconds to finish his semifinal against Yu SHIOTANI (JPN) at 60kg. He gets a bodylock throw for four points and then lifts Shiotani again and completes the suplex for another four points and the world silver medalist reaches the final. But for the gold medal, he will have to go through another Japanese phenom in U23 world champion Koto GOMI (JPN) who rolls to a 10-0 technical superiority win over Sajjad ABBASPOUR (IRI).

14:25: 55kg semifinals - Ikhtiyor BOTIROV (UZB) gets Arsen ZHUMA (KAZ) in a front headlock and continues throwing him until securing a 9-0 lead for the win. It is ultimately called a fall. Botirov will face Mohammad HOSSEINVAND (IRI) for the gold medal after he defeated Iran's longtime 55kg wrestler Poya DAD MARZ (IRI) 1-1.

14:00: Georgij TIBILOV (SRB) must be heartbroken with that loss. He led 7-0 against Yu SHIOTANI (JPN) in the 60kg quarterfinal but Shiotani gets the par terre in the second period and punishes Tibilov with two reverse lifts. A defensive foul and lost challenge give Shiotani a 11-7 lead. Another reverse lift for four points helps him win 15-7

13:45: ~~In a battle of two age-group champions, Moustafa ALAMELDIN (EGY) pins Abror ATBAEV (UZB) and advances to the semifinal at 72kg.~~ After a review on challenge from Uzbekistan, they cancelled the fall for a foul from Alameldin. However, the Egyptian still posts a 2-1 victory to advance.

13:30: Reza MOKHTARI (IRI) takes out Olympic silver medalist Demeu ZHADRAYEV (KAZ) with a 3-1 victory at 82kg. A turn in par terre was all that was needed for Mokhtari to win the bout

13:15: Two of the most talented wrestlers at 60kg and both U23 world champions in different years, Koto GOMI (JPN) and Alisher GANIEV (UZB), have made it to the semifinals in Zagreb. A treat awaits if both reach the final

12:55: Riza KAYAALP (TUR) looks extremely good in his comeback! Using the gut-wrench against, he marches on with yet another 9-0 win at 130kg, this time over Rati TALIKISHVILI (GEO)

12:45: U23 world champion Koto GOMI (JPN) with two beautiful throws to beat Pouya NASERPOUR (IRI), 9-0, and advance to the quarterfinals at 60kg

12:40: Alisher GANIEV (UZB) continues his good form in Zagreb with another technical superiority win at 60kg. This time he beats Mert ILBARS (TUR) 10-0

12:30: Mihail KAJAIA (SRB), a mainstay of the Serbian team, begins his 97kg team with 9-2 victory over NITESH (IND). Kajaia had flirted with the idea of moving up to 130kg but has returned to 97kg.

12:20: Yu SHIOTANI (JPN), known for his explosive reverse lift, keeps it simple against Maxwell BLACK (USA) at 60kg and battles out a controlled 8-4 win to advance.

12:00: Demeu ZHADRAYEV (KAZ), Olympic silver medalist at 77kg in Paris, gets the fall over Alexander JOHANSSON (SWE) in their bout at 82kg.

11:45: Riza KAYAALP (TUR), returning to action after two years, begins with a 9-0 technical superiority win over Aden ATTAO (USA). He scores four turns from par terre for the victory at 130kg

11:35: Not something we see everyday but Marko MILANOVIC (CRO), the son of President of Croatia, is wrestling. At 130kg, he is off to a flying start with a technical superiority 9-0 victory over Joginder RATHEE (IND). After leading 5-0 at the break, Milanovic hits a suplex for four to finish the bout.

11:25: World silver medalist Alisher GANIEV (UZB) wins his opening bout at 60kg, 9-0. But that's not the story. He defeated former United States team member in Freestyle Zane RICHARDS (USA), who wrestled Greco-Roman for the first time internationally.

11:05: Arsen ZHUMA (KAZ) stuns former European champion Artiom DELEANU (MDA) at 55kg. He finishes the bout after rolling from par terre and winning 9-0

10:55: Shahin BADAGHIMOFRAD (QAT) takes his match into the second period but has not trouble in winning the 82kg bout against Marek VRBA (CZE), 9-0.

10: 45: World bronze medalist and big hope for a medal for the hosts Croatia Karlo KODRIC (CRO) drops his opening bout against Tornike MIKELADZE (GEO) 1-1 after failing to score any points from the two par terre positions he got in the 97kg bout.

10:30: Six Greco-Roman weight classes in action but Riza KAYAALP (TUR) comeback will be the most anticipated event on Sunday in Zagreb

USA Stars Pick up Pair of Freestyle Titles; Akgul Locks up #WrestleNurSultan Third Seed

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Zagreb Open 2026 Day 5 Greco-Roman Highlights