#WrestleBudapest: Muszukajev brings Aliyev down to claim historic gold for Hungary

Tuesday, March 29, 2022 - 20:23 By Vinay Siwach

BUDAPEST, Hungary (March 29) -- Iszmail MUSZUKAJEV (HUN) may have broken his infamous curse of fizzling out in the second period of the bout.

What fans witnessed Tuesday was a different Muszukajev who not only ended Hungary's 19-year wait for a freestyle European champion, he destroyed two-time Olympic medalist Haji ALIYEV (AZE) with a 12-1 victory in the 65kg final.

For long, Muszukajev has been an unpopular wrestler for his second-period conditioning. Many of his losses have been a result of him not being able to match the pace of his opponents. In one of those losses, he was up 9-0 at the break.

So when he set up a final against Aliyev at the European Championships in Budapest, a similar fate was expected -- Muszukajev would give up after the initial burst.

"I didn’t expect that score," Muszukajev said. "The opponent is really good and last time it was really difficult to win. This time I was in a better shape, after the Olympics I got down to training straight away and I was mentally preparing for the European Championships."

Iszmail MUSZAKAJEV Iszmail MUSZUKAJEV (HUN) ended Hungary's 19-year wait for a gold medal at the European Championships. (Photo: UWW / Kadir Caliskan)

Muszukajev was referring to their semifinal bout at the 2020 Individual World Cup which he won 7-6. He had built a 6-1 lead in that semifinal but Aliyev mounted a comeback with three takedowns and leveled it 6-6 with five seconds remaining. A tired Muszukajev somehow managed to hold on for the win.

Just over a year later, the stakes had changed. Aliyev was now a two-time Olympic medalist while the Hungary wrestler was becoming a flash in the pan after his 2019 World bronze medalist.

Before the final, Aliyev was warming up with his coach while Muszukajev was zen-like in the warm-up room. As the announcers called for their names, Azerbaijan fans let out a loud cheer to welcome their three-time world champion. But seconds later, the local Hungary fans with their vuvuzelas made the atmosphere electric.

As he waited for Muszukajev to reach the mat, Aliyev jogged around, making it obvious that he is ready for the final. Muszukajev sprinted to the center.

It was all going according to Aliyev's game plan of keeping Muszukajev busy with hand-fighting and not allowing him to get to his legs. The referees called the Hungary wrestler passive. Aliyev got the first point.

From there on, it was a flashback to the Belgrade final. A funky Muszukajev moved around on his knees trying to find an opening. He finally got one in the third minute when he scored a takedown after getting to the far ankle of Aliyev when the two were involved in a hip-to-hip position. He stayed low and worked a leg lace to build a 6-1 lead at the break.

Aliyev needed to get going from the word go in the second period and he got a takedown but the referee penalized him for a singlet-pull. When he got another takedown, the referee once again cautioned him for another singlet-pull. Muszukajev now led 8-1 with 1:40 remaining.

"I don't know how my mind was working," Aliyev said as he stared at the empty warm-up hall. "But such is wrestling. I can't explain what happened."

Aliyev's desperation had reached a level where he tried to trip Muszukajev but the Hungary wrestler sent Aliyev to his back to get the four points and the technical superiority win.

"You can never know how much you score," he said. "I was mentally preparing for the match because you never know what to expect, you’re just focusing on the win, so to not lose even a position."

Outscoring his opponents 33-1 in Budapest, Muszukajev has once again put himself in the mix of top wrestlers at the deepest weight category in the world. While he could not win a medal at the Tokyo Olympics after losing the bronze medal bout to the then world champion Gazdhimurad RASHIDOV (RWF), he still has the ambition to win a Games medal.

"I was definitely going for gold at the Olympics. Since I had many different injuries I couldn’t perform in my best shape," he said.

But just seven months later, he is now a European champion in Hungary, ending the 21-year wait for the host nation. Hungary last had a European champion in 2003 when Arpad RITTER (HUN) won the gold at 74kg.

"I didn’t know that it hadn’t happened for 21 years," he said. "I knew it was quite a while. I am glad I could make Hungarian fans happy."

Magomedkhan MAGOMEDOV (AZE) gave Azerbaijan the first gold medal of the '22 European Championships. (Photo: UWW / Kadir Caliskan)

Historic wins

The result was reversed in the other Hungary-Azerbaijan final. At 97kg, Magomedkhan MAGOMEDOV (AZE) wrestled Vladislav BAITSAEV (HUN) in the summit clash and used two four-point throws in his 11-5 win. That result gave Azerbaijan its first gold of the night, the only out of the four finals its wrestlers were competing in.

"I have wrestled Baitsaev before," Magomedov said. "I understood his wrestling and thankfully I was able to win my first gold."

Georgios KOUGIOUMTSIDIS (GRE), red, defeated Ashraf ASHIROV (AZE) in the 79kg final. (Photo: UWW / Kadir Caliskan)

In two other historic finals, Georgios KOUGIOUMTSIDIS (GRE) became Greece's first-ever freestyle European champion after he won the 79kg gold while Vladimir EGOROV (MKD) won the 57kg gold to end North Macedonia's 23-year wait for gold at the continental championships.

Two weeks earlier, Kougioumtsidis had won the U23 European Championships in Plovdiv, Bulgaria, and was unsure of participating in the senior event. But after the perusal of his father and trainer, he accepted the challenge.

"They told me that this experience can help me later in my career," Kougioumtsidis said. "I am so proud and happy to be my country's first-ever gold medalist."

He wrestled Ashraf ASHIROV (AZE) in the final and began with a takedown and added a gut-wrench. A step-out helped him lead 5-0 at the break.

But after the first minute of the second period, he struggled to keep up with the pace of Ashirov and was taken down on the edge. A head-pinch exposure cut his lead to 5-4. In the final 10 seconds, Ashirov went for another head-pinch and got the two points but was also held to his back to give up two. That helped the Greece wrestler win 7-6.

Vladimir EGOROV (MKD) celebrates with his coach after winning the 57kg gold. (Photo: UWW / Kadir Caliskan)

In the 57kg final, Egorov had U23 world champion Aliabbas RZAZADE (AZE) and began with a takedown. That was the only action in the first period and he led 2-0 at the break. But the second period saw him come out with an arm-trap and he scored six straight points to lead 8-0.

Rzazade did try to make it interesting with six points in the second period but the bout was not as close as the 8-6 scoreline suggests.

Zurabi IAKOBISHVILI (GEO) won his first gold at the European Championships. (Photo: UWW / Bayrem Ben Mrad)

At 70kg, 2017 world champion Zurabi IAKOBISHVILI (GEO) captured his first-ever European title when he defeated Arman ANDREASYAN (ARM) in the final, 2-1. All three points in the bouts were non-action ones.

"I had the gold medal of the Worlds but not a European gold," Iakobishvili said. "That's why I came here to Hungary and I am happy I’ve won it.

"In 2017, it was the first time I wrestled at a World Championships. Back then I was much happier since it was my first time winning the world title."

The remaining five freestyle gold medals will be decided Wednesday with Taha AKGUL (TUR) and Geno PETRIASHVILI (GEO) wrestling for the top medal at 125kg.

Frank CHAMIZO (ITA) will have a chance to avenge his last year's loss to Tajmuraz SALKAZANOV (SVK) as the two meet in the 74kg final.

Women's wrestling also begins Wednesday with 50kg, 55kg, 59kg, 68kg and 76kg.

Results

Day 2 Medal Bouts

57kg
GOLD: Vladimir EGOROV (MKD) df Aliabbas RZAZADE (AZE), 8-6

BRONZE: Manvel KHNDZRTSYAN (ARM) df Niklas STECHELE (GER), 6-2
BRONZE: Beka BUJIASHVILI (GEO) df Mikyay NAIM (BUL), 11-0

65kg
GOLD: Iszmail MUSZUKAJEV (HUN) df Haji ALIYEV (AZE), 12-1

BRONZE: Munir AKTAS (TUR) df Maxim SACULTAN (MDA), via fall
BRONZE: Islam DUDAEV (ALB) df Krzysztof BIENKOWSKI (POL), 5-0

70kg
GOLD: Zurabi IAKOBISHVILI (GEO) df Arman ANDREASYAN (ARM), 2-1

BRONZE: Ziraddin BAYRAMOV (AZE) df Ramazan RAMAZANOV (BUL), via fall
BRONZE: Nicolai GRAHMEZ (MDA) df Selahattin KILICSALLAYAN (TUR), via fall

79kg
GOLD: Georgios KOUGIOUMTSIDIS (GRE) df Ashraf ASHIROV (AZE), 7-6

BRONZE: Vladimeri GAMKRELIDZE (GEO) df Arman AVAGYAN (ARM), 9-7
BRONZE: Alans AMIROVS (LAT) df Muhammet AKDENIZ (TUR), via inj. def.

97kg
GOLD: Magomedkhan MAGOMEDOV (AZE) df Vladislav BAITSAEV (HUN), 11-5

BRONZE: Batyrbek TSAKULOV (SVK) df Erik THIELE (GER), 7-0
BRONZE: Zbigniew BARANOWSKI (POL) df Elizbar ODIKADZE (GEO), 4-2

Day 2 Semifinals

61kg
GOLD: Suleyman ATLI (TUR) vs Arsen HARUTYUNYAN (ARM)

SF 1: Suleyman ATLI (TUR) df Georgi VANGELOV (BUL), 6-3
SF 2: Arsen HARUTYUNYAN (ARM) df Eduard GRIGOREV (POL), 13-8

74kg
GOLD: Frank CHAMIZO (ITA) vs Tajmuraz SALKAZANOV (SVK)

SF 1: Frank CHAMIZO (ITA) df Hrayr ALIKHANYAN (ARM), 7-1
SF 2: Tajmuraz SALKAZANOV (SVK) df Turan BAYRAMOV (AZE), 8-2

86kg
GOLD: Myles AMINE (SMR) vs Abubakr ABAKAROV (AZE)

SF 1: Myles AMINE (SMR) df Osman GOCEN (TUR), 6-6
SF 2: Abubakr ABAKAROV (AZE) df Sebastian JEZIERZANSKI (POL), 3-1

92kg
GOLD: Feyzullah AKTURK (TUR) vs Ahmed BATAEV (BUL)

SF 1: Feyzullah AKTURK (TUR) df Miriani MAISURADZE (GEO), 5-2
SF 2: Ahmed BATAEV (BUL) df Osman NURMAGOMEDOV (AZE), 4-4

125kg
GOLD: Taha AKGUL (TUR) vs Geno PETRIASHVILI (GEO)

SF 1: Taha AKGUL (TUR) df Daniel LIGETI (HUN), 10-0
SF 2: Geno PETRIASHVILI (GEO) df Robert BARAN (POL), 2-1

#wrestlebishkek

Dauletbekov wins third straight Asian gold; Zare grabs 5th for Iran

Friday, April 12, 2024 - 17:26 By Ken Marantz

BISHKEK, Kyrgyzstan (April 12) -- Azamat DAULETBEKOV (KAZ) was not only aiming to complete a three-peat of Asian titles. There was a score to settle and wasn't going to let the chance to waste.

Dauletbekov willed himself to a late 4-point takedown to post a 5-2 victory over nemesis Javrail SHAPIEV (UZB) in the freestyle 86kg final at the Asian Championships on Friday in Bishkek, avenging a pair of losses over the past three years including one that kept him out of the Tokyo Olympics.

"I am very happy to be a three-time Asian champion, winning the gold medal for my country," Dauletbekov said. "I’ve been working hard for that. Thanks a lot to my coaches. It’s a team effort."

World champion Amir Hossein ZARE (IRI) handily won the gold at 125kg for his first Asian title which, combined with a victory at 92kg by Amirhossein FIROUZPOUR (IRI), gave Iran exactly half of the 10 gold medals over the two days of freestyle at Bishkek Arena.

The host country got its first gold when defending champion Taiyrbek ZHUMASHBEK UULU (KGZ) scored a late takedown for a dramatic victory at 61kg, while Japan picked up its second as Kota TAKAHASHI also left it late in winning at 74kg and denying Tajikistan just its second-ever Asian gold.

Iran captured the team title for the sixth time in seven years with 190 points. Japan finished second with 130, followed by host Kyrgyzstan with 121, three points ahead of neighbor Kazakhstan.

Azamat DAULETBEKOV (KAZ) scores a crucial takedown over Javrail SHAPIEV (UZB) in the 86kg final during the Asian Championships. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kostadin Andonov)

Dauletbekov, a world bronze medalist the past two years, became the second wrestler at the tournament to complete the Asian three-peat after Rahman AMOUZAD (IRI) did it the day before at 65kg.

For all Dauletbekov's shining credentials, Shapiev has remained a thorn in his side. Although Dauletbekov won 4-0 in a bronze-medal match at the 2018 Asian Championships in their first meeting, the Uzbek defeated him by fall at the 2021 Asian Olympic Qualifier -- Shapiev went on to place fifth in Tokyo -- and then again at last year's Asian Games, where Dauletbekov finished out of the medals.

On Friday, Dauletbekov managed to step up when the chips were down.

"The final match was a matter of principle for me," Dauletbekov said. "I lost to him [Shapiev] at the Asian Games. I think that match was controversial. I am very happy that I could win here."

In the first period, the scoring was limited to an activity point awarded to Dauletbekov, but Shapiev was on the receiving end of the next one in the second period, which put him ahead on criteria.

Dauletbekov, however, was not to be denied. He secured a body lock and used an inside trip to send Shapiev crashing to his back for a 4-point takedown. A penalty point for fleeing on Dauletbekov in the final seconds accounted for the final score as he added the title to the ones he captured in Ulan Bataar in 2022 and last year at home in Astana.

"I won my second Asian title at home, there were many fans, I will remember that tournament," he said. "This Asian Championships was successful for me. You saw that in the final, I was losing 1-1, but I could make a 4-point move to win the match with a 5-2 score."

Dauletbekov said he is considering entering the Budapest Ranking Series tournament in June as a last tuneup for the Olympics. He said he's been keeping tabs on the competition and likes his chances in Paris.

"I followed the [European] Olympic qualifier in Baku," he said. "There are many strong opponents in my weight class. I’ll be ready for them and hope everything will work out."

Amir Hossein ZARE (IRI) won the 125kg with a technical superiority over Aiaal LAZAREV (KGZ). (Photo: United World Wrestling)

In the final match of the night, Zare showed why he is the dominant heavyweight in the sport today. Facing Aiaal LAZAREV (KGZ) -- at age 38, 15 years his senior -- Zare put on a clinic in quickly transitioning from takedown to exposure points in cruising to an 11-0 technical fall.

"Due to the good training we went through at the Iran national team camp, I participated in this match with less than 100% preparation and thanks to God I could get the gold," Zare said.

Lazarev was on the activity clock when Zare scored a takedown with a slick ankle pick. Before the 30 seconds had finished, the Iraninan had ripped off a pair of gut wrenches, giving him a 7-0 lead going into the second period. A takedown right to a roll for 4 ended the match with 32 seconds left.

Zare, a Tokyo Olympic bronze medalist and world champion in 2021, will be heading into the Paris Olympics on quite a roll. Since winning the world title last year in Belgrade -- which included victories over superstars Geno PETRIASHVILI (GEO) and Taha AKGUL (TUR) -- he won golds at the Asian Games and this year's Zagreb Open.

"This is my last competition before the Olympics," Zare said. "I needed both the ranking points and the fact that the Asian medal is valuable for our country, and thank God I didn’t return empty-handed."

Taiyrbek ZHUMASHBEK UULU (KGZ) defended his 61kg title at the Asian Championships in Bishkek, thanks to a last ditch takedown in the final. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kadir Caliskan)

In the 61kg final, Zhumashbek Uulu didn't cut it as close as he did in his semifinal match earlier in the day, but he still took it to the wire to defeat Assyl AITAKYN (KAZ) 3-1 and complete a successful defense of his title.

Both wrestlers received an activity point, but Aitakyn got his midway through the second period to lead on criteria. With 20 seconds left, Zhumashbek Uulu scored a snap-down, spin-behind takedown to clinch the win to the delight of the partisan crowd.

In the semifinals, Zhumashbek Uulu was trailing on criteria when he hit a 4-point back trip in the last second for a stunning 11-7 victory over Reza ATRI (IRI).

Kota TAKAHASHI (JPN) scores a takedown to take a decisive lead in the 74kg final against Victor RASSADIN (TJK). (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kostadin Andonov)

Takahashi's 6-3 victory in the 74kg final against Viktor RASSADIN (TJK) followed a similar pattern. Takahashi got the first activity point, but was trailing on criteria when Rassadin got the second in the second period.

Takahashi, a 2022 world U23 bronze medalist who was making his international senior debut, then put the pressure on. That left an opening that Rassadin used to get in on a low single, but Takahashi nimble-footed out of it, then turned and charged Rassadin for a takedown.

"The opponent went into a firm defensive stance," Takahashi said. "I wanted to attack, but I couldn't get through where I wanted to. I couldn't score any takedowns and I was starting to get impatient."

The 20-year-old Takahashi said he was inspired by the victory at 57kg the previous night by Kento YUMIYA (JPN), his teammate at Nippon Sport Science University, often referred to as Nittaidai.

"Kento Yumiya won the title, and that made me a little anxious," Takahashi said. "I wanted to show that Nittaidai wrestling is strong. And I couldn't do less than a classmate the same age."

Rassadin was penalized a point for fleeing on the takedown, and Takahashi took advantage of the par terre position to score an exposure for a 6-1 lead. Rassadin scored a stepout, with a fleeing point tacked on, but it was not enough to deny Takahashi.

Rassadin was aiming to join Yusup ABDULSALAMOV (TJK), who triumphed in the same weight class in 2003 in New Dehli, as Tajikistan's lone Asian gold medalists.

Amirhossein FIROUZPOUR (IRI) celebrates after winning the 92kg gold medal in Bishkek. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kadir Caliskan)

At 92kg, Firouzpour regained the title he won in 2022 when he relied on his solid base and raw power to chalk up six stepouts in an 8-3 victory over teenager Sherzod POYONOV (UZB).

Firouzpour, the world U20 and U23 champion in 2022 and winner at this year's Yasar Dogu tournament in Turkey, scored three stepouts in the first period, while giving up one himself. He added three more in the second before finally scoring a takedown off an underhook. Poyonov scored a consolation takedown in the final seconds.

Kum Chol RI (PRK) blanked Reza ATRI (IRI) 11-0 in the 61kg bronze medal bout. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Amirreza Aliasgari)

DPR Korea picks up 2nd bronze in return

In the bronze-medal matches, Kum Chol RI (PRK) gave the DPK Korea its second bronze in its return to the Asian Championships after a five-year absence by putting together a masterful 11-0 victory over 2022 world silver medalist Reza ATRI (IRI) at 61kg.

After scoring a nifty low-single takedown, Ri showed incredible dexterity and balance when he twice cartwheeled out of front-headlock counter lifts, both of which he turned into stepouts. The Iranians challenged the second, but it was denied to give Ri a 5-0 lead.

In the second period, Ri, making his first international appearance since winning an Asian cadet title in 2014, spun behind for a takedown, then went back and forth with an arm bar roll to finish off the match in 4:16.

The other 61kg bronze went to Enkhbold ENKHBAT (MGL), who put together a somewhat unusual winning pattern in a wild 18-7 victory over Akash DAHIYA (IND).

Enkhbat twice used a takedown and lace lock combination to chalk up big points -- eight in the first period and 10 in the second to end the match. But in between, he allowed Dahiya to come back and score seven points to cut the gap to one.

Sangho HAN (KOR) gave Korea its first medal of the competition with an amazing comeback at 74kg, overcoming a seven-point deficit to defeat teenager Alp BEGENJOV (TKM) 17-7 and deny Turkmenistan its first-ever senior Asian medal in freestyle.

The 17-year-old Begenjov came out on fire, kicking out the leg for a 4-point takedown before adding a stepout and a takedown for a 7-0 lead. But then he ran out of gas, and Han took full advantage, scoring two takedowns, a stepout and two exposures to go ahead 9-7 at the break.

It was more of the same in the second, as he used a lace lock for four points, then a takedown to a roll for four more to end the match at 3:34.

Iran added two bronze medals to its final tally with victories by Hossein ABOUZARI (IRI) at 74kg and Hadi VAFAEIPOUR (IRI) at 86kg.

Abouzari, making his senior Asian debut, scored all of his points in the second period of a 5-2 victory over 2021 champion Syrbaz TALGAT (KAZ). Vafaeipour had an easier time with Peilong LI (CHN), scoring two takedown-exposure combinations in a 10-0 technical fall in 2:31.

Tatsuya SHIRAI (JPN), a 2022 world U23 champion appearing in just his second international tournament on the senior level, came away with the other 86kg bronze with a 3-0 victory over Atai IZABEKOV (KGZ). Shirai was the aggressor throughout and was rewarded with two activity points, then added a stepout at the buzzer.

Bahrain had two wrestlers named SHARIPOV in action, and both came away with bronze medals with one-sided victories.

Magomed SHARIPOV (BRN) picked up his second straight Asian bronze at 92kg after scoring four takedowns, including a 4-pointer, in a 10-0 technical fall over Suhe GANG (CHN), and Shamil SHARIPOV (BRN) scored a second-period fall over Anirudh KUMAR (IND) after building an 8-2 lead at 125kg.

Batzul DAMJIN (MGL) won the other 92kg bronze and broke some host country hearts, scoring a duck-under takedown with 40 seconds left for a 2-2 victory on criteria over Nurtilek KARYPBAEV (KGZ). Both of Karypbaev's points came on the activity clock.

BUHEEERDUN (CHN) needed just 44 seconds to secure his second straight bronze at 125kg, scoring a takedown and executing four gut wrenches for a 10-0 victory over Odgerel BATKHISHIG (MGL).

Day 2 Results

Freestyle

61kg (15 entries)
GOLD: Taiyrbek ZHUMASHBEK UULU (KGZ) df. Assyl AITAKYN (KAZ), 3-1

BRONZE: Kum Chol RI (PRK) df. Reza ATRI (IRI) by TF, 11-0, 4:16
BRONZE: Enkhbold ENKHBAT (MGL) df. Akash DAHIYA (IND) by TF, 18-7, 5:29

74kg (16 entries)
GOLD: Kota TAKAHASHI (JPN) df. Viktor RASSADIN (TJK), 6-3

BRONZE: Hossein ABOUZARI (IRI) df. Syrbaz TALGAT (KAZ), 5-2
BRONZE: Sangho HAN (KOR) df. Alp BEGENJOV (TKM) by TF, 17-7, 3:34

86kg (12 entries)
GOLD: Azamat DAULETBEKOV (KAZ) df. Javrail SHAPIEV (UZB), 5-2

BRONZE: Hadi VAFAEIPOUR (IRI) df. Peilong LI (CHN) by TF, 10-0, 2:31
BRONZE: Tatsuya SHIRAI (JPN) df. Atai IZABEKOV (KGZ), 3-0

92kg (12 entries)
GOLD: Amirhossein FIROUZPOUR (IRI) df. Sherzod POYONOV (UZB), 8-3

BRONZE: Magomed SHARIPOV (BRN) df. Suhe GANG (CHN) by TF, 10-0, 3:34
BRONZE: Batzul DAMJIN (MGL) df. Nurtilek KARYPBAEV (KGZ), 2-2

125kg (11 entries)
GOLD: Amir ZARE (IRI) df. Aiaal LAZAREV (KGZ) by TF, 11-0, 5:27

BRONZE: Shamil SHARIPOV (BRN) df. Anirudh KUMAR (IND) by Fall, 4:15 (8-2)
BRONZE: BUHEEERDUN (CHN) df. Odgerel BATKHISHIG (MGL) by TF, 10-0, :44

#WrestleBudapest: Muszukajev brings Aliyev down to claim historic gold for Hungary

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Dauletbekov wins third straight Asian gold; Zare grabs 5th for Iran