Weekly FIVE!

Weekly FIVE! July 09, 2018

Monday, July 9, 2018 - 14:39 By Eric Olanowski

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Taking a look at Iran doubling up on World Championship team titles and Iakobishvili stealing Tbilisi gold from Olympic champ Ramonov. Also looking at reigning world champion Yui SUSAKI (JPN) earning her shot at defending her world title in Budapest. 

1. Reigning World Champ Susaki Rallies Past Irie To Earn Second Straight World Team Spot 
Reigning world champion Yui SUSAKI (JPN) earned a shot at defending her world title after rallying from a four-point deficit, scoring the winning takedown with 15 seconds left to defeat Yuki IRIE (JPN) 6-4 in a special playoff for the women's 50kg spot on Japan's team to the world championships in Budapest in October.

"My feeling right now is that I'm glad I earned the spot on the world championship team and that this year I will win a second straight world title," Susaki said.

This weekend's win comes after the 19-year-old was dealt a stunning loss by technical fall to Irie in the Emperor's Cup semifinals. She avenged that defeat with a victory by fall in the final at the Meiji Cup to set up the featured showdown of the playoffs where she was victorious (6-4) in earning her second straight world team spot. 

JAPAN'S WORLD TEAM ROSTER 

Mohammad NOSRATI (IRI) celebrates after winning the 92kg Greco-Roman gold medal. (Photo by Max Rose-Fyne) 

2. Iran Doubles up on Cadet World Team Titles
Iran capped off the 2018 Cadet World Championships in dominant fashion, winning team titles in both freestyle and Greco-Roman. 

In freestyle, Iran claimed three gold medals from four finalists, including wins from Rahman AMOUZADKHALILI (IRI) at 48kg and Ali Reza ABDOLLAHI (IRI) at 92kg on the final day, helping the Iraniaseparateate themselves in the team race. 

Iran then followed up their freestyle performance up by capping off the Greco-Roman portion of the tournament with four finalists and two champions, finishing 22-points ahead of the second-place finishers, Russia (108 points).  

News and Highlights 

Nonoka OZAKI (JPN) was one of six Japanese female wrestlers to capture a gold medal at the 2018 Cadet World Championships. (Photo by Max Rose-Fyne) 

3. Japan Women Collect Six Cadet Gold Medals 
Japan scooped up their eighth-consecutive Cadet World Championship, scoring nearly 100 points more than India who finished in second-place.

The Far East nation pulverized the competition on the opening day of women’s wrestling action, winning four gold medals. They followed that up with two additional gold medals on the second day of competition, bringing their tournament total to an impressive six out of ten possible gold medals. 

Also of note in women’s wrestling, Macey KILTY (USA) and Emily SHILSON (USA) claimed gold medals for the United States, marking the first time in history that two American Cadets have won women’s freestyle world championships. 

Final team results
1. Japan - 210
2. India - 111
3. China - 110
4. Russia - 109
5. USA - 108
6. Ukraine - 99
7. Mongolia - 65
8. Belarus - 63
9. Azerbaijan - 36
10. Hungary – 30

News and Highlights 

4. Iakobishvili Steals Tbilisi Gold from Olympic Champ Ramonov 
Reigning world champion Zurabi IAKOBISHVILI (GEO) electrified the Georgian crowd, scoring the go-ahead takedown with 15-seconds left over Olympic champion Soslan RAMONOV (RUS) to steal the 70kg Tbilisi Grand Prix gold medal, 3-2. 

Trailing by one-point with under 15-seconds remaining, the Georgian shot a studder-step double, freezing for a split-second before re-attacking with a right-handed high-crotch, scoring the lead-changing takedown and ultimately his first Tbilisi Grand Prix gold medal.

RESULTS

5. India Set to Host Asian Junior Championships July 17-22 
The I.G. Sports Complex in New Delhi, India is set to host the 2018 Junior Asian Championships starting on July 17. 

This is the second junior continental championship (Junior African Championships) but is the first of three that will take place over the next month. 

The Junior European Championships begin July 30 and will be followed by the Junior Pan-American Championships which take place August 17-19.

FULL SCHEDULE

Weekly FIVE! In Social Media

1.  It's Summer! Time to go out and train!?
Лето вошло в полную силу! Пора тренироваться на свежем воздухе! ? @jolaman_sharshenbekov 
#wrestling#training#workout#motivation#coolvideo#кыргызстан#тренировка#лето#борцы#summer#summermood

2. Big Move from Day 6 of the Cadet World C'Ships
فن برتر روز ششم کشتی نوجوانان جهان
#Zagreb2018 !

3. KAZ ?? Defeats GEO ?? in a close match #uww #unitedworldwrestling #wrestling#grecoroman #cadets 

4. Day 6 of Cadet World Championships.................HERE. WE. GO. ? ? ?‍♂️ #uww #unitedworldwrestling #wrestling#grecoroman #cadets

5. Reigning world champion @petro700 explosive second-period start sparked him to a #TbilisiGP2018 gold medal, avenging his February loss to Ukraine's Aleksander KHOTSIANIVSK.

#WrestleParis

Valizadeh, Mahdavi named in IOC Refugee Team for 2024 Paris Olympics

Thursday, May 2, 2024 - 16:53 By United World Wrestling Press

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LAUSANNE, Switzerland (May 2) -- Wrestlers Iman MAHDAVI and Jamal VALIZADEH were among the 36 athletes from 11 different countries across 12 sports were named by International Olympic Committee (IOC) President Thomas Bach to the IOC Refugee Olympic Team for Paris 2024.

Mahdavi and Valizadeh were selected to the IOC Refugee Olympic Team through the support of the Refugee Athletes Scholarship Programme, funded by the IOC's Olympic Solidarity program. The two wrestlers are supported by the hosting national federations of Italy and France and the United World Wrestling Development Department for Technical Assistance and participation in UWW events.

At the 2024 Paris Games in August, the two will be representing different styles with Valizadeh gearing up for Greco-Roman 60kg and Mahdavi set to compete in Freestyle 74kg.

Mahdavi was born to be a wrestler, following in his father's footsteps. Through his unwavering love for the sport and fierce determination, it was no surprise that success followed the now-29-year-old. He won seven junior national titles and quickly climbed the ranks in his nation.

But in 2020, that was all derailed as Mahdavi fled his country and became a refugee. He moved to Milan, Italy, and applied for asylum. He found a full-time job in Milan and friends that soon became family. Through all the uncertainties, one thing remained – his love for wrestling.

Mahdavi found a practice facility in Milan, one with high-level training partners that helped rekindle his Olympic hopes. He worked out five days a week, and after three years of struggle, Mahdavi returned to the mat under the UWW Refugee team.

Mahdavi's UWW Refugee team debut came at the 2023 European Championships, where he registered a 12th-place finish at 74kg, one of the most competitive brackets of the tournament. After two months of tweaks and improvements, Mahdavi achieved a career-best result – a bronze medal at the City of Sassari Tournament. He continued taking the mat every chance he had, wrestling in the Poland Open and World Championships, where he finished in fifth and 18th, respectively.

This year, Mahdavi's competition calendar will feature three events – two of which will be tune-up competitions. He already participated in the European Championships and will use the World OG Qualifier (May 11-12) as a warm up competition for the Paris Games, where he will compete August 9-10.

It is to be noted that Mahdavi will be in Istanbul on a participating basis and not for qualification. The same is true for Valizadeh who will compete in Istanbul but not to qualify.

Like Mahdavi, Valizadeh shared a similar love for wrestling from a young age. He became one of Iran's brightest talents through his hard work and commitment to wrestling.

Despite having a bright future in the sport, Valizadeh was forced to put wrestling in the rearview and leave Iran in 2014 for a better life. He ended up in Turkiye, where he worked nearly 16 hours a day to make ends meet.

But still, Valizadeh knew there was no way he could reach his ultimate goal – the Olympic Games – living in Turkiye.

After two years, Valizadeh departed Turkiye by boat and arrived in France where he trains with the French Greco-Roman National Team and lives in Metz.

Although he had been away from the sport for many years, Valizadeh regained his passion for wrestling and returned to the mat in 2023 as a UWW Refugee team member. He competed six times last year, including the European and World Championships.

This season, in addition to his appearances at the Henri Deglane and European Championships in GR 60kg, Valizadeh will participate, for experience, in the World OG Qualifier (May 9-10) before wrestling on home soil at the Paris Olympic Games, August 5-6.

For more on the IOC Refugee Olympic Team, visit olympics.com.