#WrestleBelgrade

UWW hosts Congress before World Championships in Belgrade

By United World Wrestling Press

BELGRADE, Serbia (September 9) -- The United World Wrestling hosted its ordinary Congress Friday, a day before the World Championships in Belgrade, Serbia.

UWW President and International Olympic Committee Executive Board member Nenad LALOVIC opened the Congress which was attended by 106 countries.

President of IOC Thomas BACH addressed the gathering with a message to remain united and work towards Olympic solidarity.

Lalovic, who has attended 11 executive board meetings in the last 12 months, echoed the same views during his opening remark.

Nenad LALOVICUWW President Nenad LALOVIC addressing the Congress in Belgrade. (Photo: UWW / Kadir Caliskan)

"We as sports lose in such [conflict] situation," Lalovic said. "Our family is not about politics but about wrestlers and fans. So we should remain united.

"Our athletes promote peace around the globe. We had problems in the past but we hope our medals will shine in the right way."

The attendees of the Congress also held one-minute silence to mourn the death of bureau member Lucio CANEVA and Francois CARRARD.

The Congress discussed the improvement of wrestling via youth engagement, women's wrestling, associated styles, the image of wrestling and digital transformation. The reports of all the different departments of UWW were also presented during the Congress.

The Congress also held the election for seven bureau members for a five-year term. A total of 122 votes were cast with the majority being 61 votes.

Out of the seven, four were re-elected which include Theodoros HAMAKOS, Karl-Martin DITTMANN, Rodika YAKSI, Namig ALIYEV. The three newly elected members were Daniel IGALI (NGR), Razvan PIRCALABU (ROU) and Zhang YE (CHN).

The Congress emphasized that to continue on their goal to be self-reliant they need overall growth with more sponsors, and engagement and take wrestling to regional and local levels.

Details of the Congress are available at uww.org.

#WrestleKonya

Iran dominates Islamic Solidarity Games with 3 golds

By Ali Feizasa

KONYA, Turkey (August 11) -- Iran finished the freestyle competition of the 5th Islamic Solidarity Games with three gold medals on the second day in Konya, Turkey. Overall, the nation ended with five gold medals while Azerbaijan and Uzbekistan achieved two gold medals each.

Opening the medal session was 2021 Asian champion Jahongirmirza TUROBOV (UZB) who claimed the gold after a dramatic win over Islam BAZARGANOV (AZE) in the final.

Jahongirmirza TUROBOV (UZB)Jahongirmirza TUROBOV (UZB) came from behind to win the 61kg gold. (Photo: Turkish Wrestling Federation)

Bazarganov led the 61kg final bout 5-0 but in the last minute, Turobov came from behind to lead 6-5. Bazarganov did score another point in the final 10 seconds but Turobov won 6-6 on criteria as his technical moves were superior to Bazarganov.

At 70kg, 2021 world silver medalist and U23 world champion Ernazar AKMATALIEV (KGZ) took the only gold medal for Kyrgyzstan in freestyle competition by edging Hossein ABOUZARI (IRI), 6-0, in the 70kg final.

Ahmad BAZRI (IRI)Ahmad BAZRI (IRI) won the 92kg gold medal in Konya. (Photo: Turkish Wrestling Federation)

But three Iran wrestlers held the country finish on a high.

In the 79kg final, Asian champion Ali SAVADKOUHI (IRI) downed the host country's star Muhammet AKDENIZ (TUR). At the start of the match, Savadkouhi was surprised by a four-pointer from Akdeniz but soon controlled the bout with a takedown and two gut wrenches. The Iranian then continued to earn a 12-6 victory.

Ahmad BAZRI (IRI), the 2022 Yasar Dogu champion, collected the gold medal at 92kg with an easy win over Erhan YAYLACI (TUR). The Iran wrestler won the gold with a 7-1 win.

The third Iran-Turkey final was at the super heavyweight with Seyed Mehdi HASHEMI (IRI) wrestling Salim ERCAN (TUR). Hashemi helped Iran end with five gold medals as he defeated Ercan 8-0 and become the best team in the Games.

Aisuluu TYNYBEKOVA (KGZ)Aisuluu TYNYBEKOVA (KGZ) became the 62kg champion. (Photo: Turkish Wrestling Federation)

Three women's wrestling weight classes were also contested on Thursday.

Two-time world champion and Olympic silver medalist Aisuluu TYNYBEKOVA (KGZ) warmed-up to defend her world title with a gold medal at 62kg. She defeated Yarie CAMARA (GUI) 11-0 in the final.

Turkey and Azerbaijan won a gold medal each with Leyla GURBANOVA (AZE) winning the 53kg gold and Bose TOSUN (TUR) winning the 72kg title.

Gurbanov defended her gold medal from 2017 and won her bouts with ease. In the final, she wrestled two-time Asian Championships bronze medalist Aktenge KEUNIMJAEVA (UZB) and won the bout 6-1.

Bose TOSUN (TUR)Bose TOSUN (TUR) won the home country's first gold medal. (Photo: Turkish Wrestling Federation)

World medalist Tosun ended the gold drought for Turkey by winning the 72kg title. After going through the bracket, she pinned Gozal ZUTOVA (AZE) in the final to claim the top place on the medal. She needed only 50 seconds to pin Zutova, using a double leg takedown and delighted the home fans.

Wrestling at the 5th Islamic Solidarity Games continues with Greco-roman and women’s weights on Friday.

Ernazar AKMATALIEV (KGZ)Ernazar AKMATALIEV (KGZ) defeated Hossein ABOUZARI (IRI), 6-0 in the 70kg final. (Photo: Turkish Wrestling Federation)

Day 2 Results

Freestyle

61kg
GOLD: Jahongirmirza TUROBOV (UZB) df. Islam BAZARGANOV (AZE), 6-6

BRONZE: Recep TOPAL (TUR) df. Ali ABURUMAILA (PLE), 11-3
BRONZE: Majid DASTAN (IRI) df. Muhammad BILAL (PAK), 6-3

70kg
GOLD: Ernazar AKMATALIEV (KGZ) df. Hossein ABOUZARI (IRI), 6-0

BRONZE: Asgar MAMMADALIYEV (AZE) df. Dzhamshed SHARIFOV (TJK), 3-0
BRONZE: Bacar DUM (GBS) df. Zafarbek OTAKHONOV (UZB), 7-7

79kg
GOLD: Ali SAVADKOUHI (IRI) df. Muhammet AKDENIZ (TUR), 12-6

BRONZE: Bekzod ABDURAKHMONOV (UZB) df. Fetai EDDINE (ALG), 10-0
BRONZE: Gadzhimurad OMAROV (AZE) df. Meiir KOSHKINBAYEV (KAZ), 10-4

92kg
GOLD: Ahmad BAZRI (IRI) df. Erhan YAYLACI (TUR), 7-1

BRONZE: Osman NURMAGOMEDOV (AZE) df. Abdimanap BAIGENZHEYEV (KAZ), 10-0
BRONZE: Bobur ISLOMOV (UZB) df. Mirlan CHYNYBEKOV (KGZ), 5-4

125kg
GOLD: Seyed Mehdi HASHEMI (IRI) df. Salim ERCAN (TUR), 8-0

BRONZE: Khasanboy RAKHIMOV (UZB) df. Zyyamuhammet SAPAROV (TKM), 10-0

Women’s Wrestling

53kg
GOLD: Leyla GURBANOVA (AZE) df. Aktenge KEUNIMJAEVA (UZB), 6-1

BRONZE: Ellada MAKHYADDINOVA (KAZ) df. Vatansulton SHAKARSHOEVA (TJK), 7-2
BRONZE: Rahime ARI (TUR) df. Candra MARIMAR (INA), via fall

62kg
GOLD: Aisuluu TYNYBEKOVA (KGZ) df. Yarie CAMARA (GUI), 11-0

BRONZE: Tetiana OMELCHENKO (AZE) df. Tantri HERLINA (INA), 11-0
BRONZE: Irina KUZNETSOVA (KAZ) df. Goudiaby SAFIETOU (SEN), via fall

72kg
GOLD: Buse TOSUN (TUR) df. Gozal ZUTOVA (AZE), via fall

BRONZE: Nour JELJELI (TUN) df. Ngiri NYEH (CMR), 11-4
BRONZE: Zhamila BAKBERGENOVA (KAZ) df. Sambou ANTA (SEN), 10-0