#WrestleBudapest

#WrestleBudpest: Bisultanov dominates to 87kg gold; Kayaalp wins 11th title

Saturday, April 2, 2022 - 22:56 By Vinay Siwach

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BUDAPEST, Hungary (April 2) -- Denmark has hosted the World Championships only once -- 2009.

As the world descended in Herning that September, wrestling fans thronged the stadium. Among them was Turpan BISULTANOV (DEN) and his brother Rajbek. And when the tournament ended, the two brothers went home inspired.

12 years after that World Championships in Herning, Bisultanov is a European champion. The 21-year-old switched from taekwondo to wrestling after the Worlds and has been breaking records for Denmark ever since.

Last year, he won the junior championships for Denmark after 17 years and Saturday, he won the gold for Denmark three years after his brother Rajbek won one in 2019. Rajbek's medal ended his country's 93-year wait for a senior continental gold.

The flamboyant 21-year-old outscored his opponents 35-0 over two days and with his crowd-pleasing style became a fan favorite in Budapest.

"I don't know what happened," Bisultanov said. "It's unbelievable. But I am here but I don't know what to say."

Wrestling Nicu OJOG (ROU) in the 87kg final, Bisultanov took only one minute and 13 seconds to finish the bout 8-0. In his four bouts, he did not wrestle the full six minutes in any, spending just over 13 minutes on the mat.

While he expected to wrestle world champion Zurabi DATUNASHVILI (SRB) in the final but Islam ABBASOV (AZE) defeated him before himself getting pinned by Ojog. Bisultanov is now waiting for a bout against the Serbian at the next competition.

"Zurabi is a fine wrestler," he said. "I am trying to learn how to fight him and other good wrestlers. But you can't forget the underdogs because they are also here to win the medal."

But no one could trouble Bisultanov here as his low-stance and high-paced wrestling made him a difficult opponent. Bisultanov explains he idolized Islambek ALBIEV (RWF) and Mark MADSEN (DEN) growing up and learned the style from the two.

Incidentally, both Albiev and Madsen won gold at the Herning World Championships.

But growing up, he did not have the same luxury as the two world champions as he had to attend school and travel to different countries if he wanted good partners.

"I have only one partner in Denmark and it's difficult to train," he said. "I have to attend school as well so I can't have more than three days a week for training. Other countries are training every day."

Most of Bisultanov's training is in Sweden or Norway. The members of the two teams were the first ones to congratulate him after the win.

Among them was Marcel STERKENBURG (NED) who wrestled at 82kg in Budapest but is expected to move to 87kg later this year. The two have been training together since childhood and are most likely to meet in an international competition soon.

"I don't know, may the best man win," he said. "We have fought each other since we were little. We were enemies as kids but now only on the mat."

Bisultanov's win in Budapest eased some of his pain from missing out on the medal in Oslo, where he finished fifth and now hopes to win one in Belgrade, hopefully, gold with a win over Datunashvili.

"I either win or learn," he said. "It was so painful to miss out on medals in Oslo and even at the Euros in Warsaw also. But I dream of winning gold at Olympics and Worlds."

Riza KAYAALPRiza KAYAALP (TUR) now has 11 European titles. (Photo: UWW / Kadir Caliskan)

Kayaalp wins 11th gold

Riza KAYAALP (TUR) is on a mission to break Alexander KARELIN (RWF) record of 12 European gold medals. He took another step closer to that by winning his 11th gold in Budapest. The four-time world champion defeated Danila SOTNIKOV (ITA), 4-0 in the 130kg final using a head-pinch exposure when the Italian was trying to push him out.

"This is my 12th final and my 11th win, it's an incredible feeling," Kayaalp said. "It always motivates me to be on top of the podium. I want to finish my career at the top. My goal is to break the records of wrestling legend Karelin."

Kayaalp has gold medals beginning from the 2010 European Championships. He missed out on medals in 2011 [silver] and 2020 [seventh]. In 2015, he won the European Games instead of the championships.

But when asked to compare his first and latest European gold, the 32-year-old said that age is catching up to him.

"It's harder to win the title every time," he said. "I feel a little older. I love wrestling and it is a part of my life and I am very happy and proud that I can do this since I was six years old."

He will now be looking to win the World Championships in Belgrade, Serbia which will be his fifth.

Malkhas AMOYANMalkhas AMOYAN (ARM) celebrates after beating Yunus BASAR (TUR) in the final. (Photo: UWW / Kadir Caliskan)

Two other world champions won gold in Budapest as Malkhas AMOYAN (ARM) won the 77kg title while Eldaniz AZIZLI (AZE) captured the top medal at 55kg.

Amoyan, who won the gold in Oslo at 72kg, was making his debut at the 77kg and wrestled Yunus BASAR (TUR) in the final. He was called passive and gave up a gut wrench to trail 3-0 at the break. But he got the same action using a chest wrap in the second period to lead 3-3 on criteria.

Turkey challenged the call asking for a leg foul but the judges found no negative wrestling which gave another point to Amoyan, extending his lead 4-3 with two minutes remaining.

The silver medalist from Warsaw European Championships was again called passive but this time Basar could not get any exposure from par terre as Amoyan let out a loud scream to celebrate his maiden gold at the continental championships.

"Last year I got second place and it was my fault," Amoyan said. "But here I was focused only on wrestling for the gold and used the instructions of the coaches correctly."

Since he has moved up to an Olympic weight class, Amoyan thinks that winning gold at 77kg is slightly more significant than his gold in Oslo which came at 72kg.

"At the Worlds, I wrestled at 72kg weight class which is not an Olympic weight," he said. "But this gold in Budapest has its Olympic significance. Well, each of them has a special purpose in my life."

The win was even more special as he had beaten 77kg Oslo silver medalist Sanan SULEYMANOV (AZE), 6-5, in the semifinals. It was his first win over the Azerbaijan wrestler in three meetings.

After his semifinal and final wins, Amoyan also got a special pat on the back from the Rio Olympic champion and Tokyo silver medalist Artur ALEKSANYAN (ARM) who was present during the celebrations.

"Artur helped me a lot, he was always close to our team, and his presence inspired our team to become winners," he said.

Eldaniz AZIZLIEldaniz AZIZLI (AZE) won his second European title in Budapest. (Photo: UWW / Kadir Caliskan)

Azizli wrestled his rival and world champion from 2019 Nugzari TSURTSUMIA (GEO). Prior to this meeting, the two had wrestled each other four times with Azizli enjoying a perfect 4-0 record over Tsurtsumia. He extended that record to 5-0 when he won 8-2 in the 55kg final.

The two greeted each other with a hug before the final but there was no love on the mat as Azizli went on the offensive straight away. He got the point for his opponent's passivity and a roll gave him a 3-1 lead.

Tsurtsumia tried exposing with a head pinch but in turn, ended up giving two points. In the same action, Azizli scored two more and led 7-1 with two minutes remaining before closing out the bout 8-2.

Leri ABULADZELeri ABULADZE (AZE) gave Georgia the gold at 63kg. (Photo: UWW / Bayrem Ben Mrad)

Georgia did have a gold medalist Saturday as U23 World champion Leri ABULADZE (GEO) added a European title to his resume. He wrestled Taleh MAMMADOV (AZE) in the 63kg final and controlled it well. His one scoring action in par terre in the second period was enough to give him a 3-1 win over Mammadov, his first in two meetings.

"I was well prepared for this championship," Abuladze said. "I was waiting for this moment for quite a long time. I was ready and everything worked out just as I planned it."

Abuladze has also put behind the defeat in the 63kg final in Oslo to Meysam DALKHANI (IRI).

"The next World Championship is ahead and I don’t want to think of that championship in Oslo," he said. "I am 100 percent ready for the next one. There will be different training camps in Georgia."

The final five gold medals of the European Championships will be handed out Sunday.

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GR Medal Bouts

55kg
GOLD: Eldaniz AZIZLI (AZE) df Nugzari TSURTSUMIA (GEO), 8-2

BRONZE: Rudik MKRTCHYAN (ARM) df Denis MIHAI (ROU), 9-1
BRONZE: Emre MUTLU (TUR) df Artiom DELEANU (MDA), via fall

63kg
GOLD: Leri ABULADZE (GEO) df Taleh MAMMADOV (AZE), 3-1

BRONZE: Oleksandr HRUSHYN (UKR) df Etienne KINSINGER (GER), 5-2
BRONZE: Ahmet UYAR (TUR) df Hrachya POGHOSYAN (ARM), 6-5

77kg
GOLD: Malkhas AMOYAN (ARM) df Yunus BASAR (TUR), 4-3

BRONZE: Sanan SULEYMANOV (AZE) df Per OLOFSSON (SWE), 5-0
BRONZE: Aik MNATSAKANIAN (BUL) df Antonio KAMENJASEVIC (CRO), 4-0

87kg
GOLD: Turpan BISULTANOV (DEN) df Nicu OJOG (ROU), 8-0

BRONZE: Islam ABBASOV (AZE) df Yoan DIMITROV (BUL), 5-1
BRONZE: Roberti KOBLIASHVILI (GEO) df Mirco MINGUZZI (ITA), 3-3

130kg
GOLD: Riza KAYAALP (TUR) df Danila SOTNIKOV (ITA), 4-0

BRONZE: Konsta MAEENPAEAE (FIN) df Franz RICHTER (GER), 1-1
BRONZE: Dariusz VITEK (HUN) df Beka KANDELAKI (AZE), 4-1

GR Semifinals

60kg
GOLD: Kerem KAMAL (TUR) vs Edmond NAZARYAN (BUL)

SF 1: Kerem KAMAL (TUR) df Murad MAMMADOV (AZE), via fall
SF 2: Edmond NAZARYAN (BUL) df Gevorg GHARIBYAN (ARM), 10-1

67kg
GOLD: Krisztian VANCZA (HUN) vs Murat FIRAT (TUR)

SF 1: Krisztian VANCZA (HUN) df Slavik GALSTYAN (ARM), 4-2
SF 2: Murat FIRAT (TUR) df Hasrat JAFAROV (AZE), 2-0

72kg
GOLD: Robert FRITSCH (HUN) vs Shmagi BOLKVADZE (GEO)

SF 1: Robert FRITSCH (HUN) df Pavel PUKLAVEC (CRO), 1-1
SF 2: Shmagi BOLKVADZE (GEO) df Ulvi GANIZADE (AZE), 4-1

82kg
GOLD: Rafig HUSEYNOV (AZE) vs Gela BOLKVADZE (GEO)

SF 1: Rafig HUSEYNOV (AZE) df Mihail BRADU (MDA), 3-1
SF 2: Gela BOLKVADZE (GEO) df Pascal EISELE (GER), 3-1

97kg
GOLD: Kiril MILOV (BUL) vs Arvi SAVOLAINEN (FIN)

SF 1: Kiril MILOV (BUL) df Vladlen KOZLIUK (UKR), 7-1
SF 2: Arvi SAVOLAINEN (FIN) df Daniel GASTL (AUT), 4-2

#WrestleAmman

U17 Worlds: Dashdamirov repeats; Iran wins Greco team title

Wednesday, August 21, 2024 - 21:26 By Vinay Siwach

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AMMAN, Jordan (August 21) -- Azerbaijan may have found its new wonderkid. Turan DASHDAMIROV (AZE) is gradually turning out to be the wrestler to beat in age-group competitions. A two-time U17 European champion, Dashdamirov is now a two-time U17 world champion as he won the gold medal at 51kg in Amman on Wednesday.

While his controversial win at the U17 World Championships last year was still in his mind, Dashdamirov used it as an inspiration and collected the gold medal for this team with no asterisk.

In the 51kg final against Kutman KALBAEV (KGZ), the 16-year-old fell behind 3-1 after Kalbaev got a turn from par terre in the first period. But Dashdamirov did not panic and got a takedown at the start of the second period to lead 3-3 on criteria. However, he continued his gut wrench and claimed an outright 5-3 lead.

"The toughest match for me was the final," Dashdamirov said. "I was behind 3-1 in the first period, but then I put myself together, made it to 3-3 and then won the match. That’s the most important [thing]."

He was one of the two champions for Azerbaijan on day three of the U17 World Championships but it was Iran that once again clinched the team title with 140 points as Greco-Roman came to an end at the tournament. Uzbekistan, which won its first team title in Greco-Roman at the U17 level at the Asian Championships, finished second with 113 points, eight points ahead of Azerbaijan which was third.

Turan DASHDAMIROV (AZE)Turan DASHDAMIROV (AZE), blue, tries to block a move from Kutman KALBAEV (KGZ) during their 51kg final at the U17 World Championships in Amman. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Amirreza Aliasgari)

Dashdamirov's win was another feather in his cap as he extended his unbeaten run in his international career to 20; his last loss coming to Rustem ABATSIEV (AIN) back in 2021 in the final of the U15 European Championships. Abatsiev was his opponent in the U17 Worlds final last year.

"I came here as a two-time U17 European champion and a U17 World champion," he said. "I could feel that the opponents were getting ready to wrestle with me. However, I didn’t change any tactics. I stuck to the plan."

A native of Bina, a locality in which the Heydar Aliyev airport in located, in Khazar province in Azerbaijan, the 16-year-old's run in Amman included a 5-1 win over Sainath PARDHI (IND), a 57-second 9-0 win over Domenic MUNARETTO (USA) and a 4-1 win over Yerassyl MUSSAN (KAZ) in the semifinals. He now hopes to replicate winning golds at the next level.

"I have both European and World Championships," he said. "Now I am planning to achieve the same result at the U20 level. 

"In Azerbaijan, we have many good wrestlers. Eldaniz AZIZLI (AZE), Sanan SULEYMANOV (AZE), Hasrat JAFAROV (AZE). I try to take them as examples."

Aykhan JAVADOV (AZE)Aykhan JAVADOV (AZE) celebrates after winning gold medal in 60kg at the U17 World Championships. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Amirreza Aliasgari)

The second for Azerbaijan was won by Aykhan JAVADOV (AZE) who survived a few nasty attacks from Vakhtang LOLUA (GEO) in the 60kg final. Javadov, the U17 European champion, won 4-1.

Lolua was penalized for blocking Javadov by using hands on the face which gave Javadov a 3-1 lead at the break. In the second period, Lolua tried getting a stepout but Javadov survived, sometimes by a whisker. It was at one such attempt when Lolua thought he got a stepout but Javadov remained inside and got a stepout of his own against Lolua to lead 4-0.

Aykhan JAVADOV (AZE)Aykhan JAVADOV (AZE) survives a stepout against Vakhtang LOLUA (GEO) during their 60kg final at the U17 World Championships in Amman. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kostadin Andonov)

Javadov was cautioned for not engaging in the final few seconds but conceding one point did not stop him from winning the gold medal. In the semifinals, he had beaten returning champion Jordyn RANEY (USA) 2-1.

Raney returned with a bronze medal as he defeated Vadym MATROS (UKR) 6-1, becoming the first wrestler from the United States to win two Greco-Roman medals at the U17 World Championships since the restart of the tournament in 2011.

Danial IZADI (IRI)Danial IZADI (IRI) scores against Ole STERNING (GER) using an arm throw during their 92kg final at the U17 World Championships in Amman. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kostadin Andonov)

Iran got its third champion of the tournament as Danial IZADI (IRI) defeated Ole STERNING (GER), 4-0, to win the gold medal at 92kg. After scoring the takedown using an arm throw, Izadi turned Sterning to lead 4-0 and sat on it for the remaining three minutes of the bout.

In his five bouts in Amman, Izadi scored 30 points while conceding only one point with some big throws being the highlight of his campaign.

"I’ve been working hard for years and I wished to become the world champion," Izadi said. "Today I was able to become the world champion. I’m very happy and grateful."

Izadi, a native Gushlu village in the historic province Ardabil in northwest Iran and on the Azerbaijan border, will be moving to the U20 level next year and hopes to continue his success.

"Next year, I’ll be in U20s and I hope I’ll be a champion in U20 like I did here," he said.

Aslanbek KOSTOEV (AIN)Aslanbek KOSTOEV (AIN) celebrates after beating Marat ATSHEMYAN (ARM) in the 45kg final at the U17 World Championships in Amman. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kostandin Andonov)

At 45kg, Aslanbek KOSTOEV (AIN) avenged his U17 European finals loss to Marat ATSHEMYAN (ARM), pinning the Armenian in the final. Atshemyan had beaten Kostoev 10-0 in the European final last month.

Atshemyan was leading the final 3-2 with less than 30 seconds remaining but he tried to throw Kostoev on the edge but fell on his back with Kostoev in control, giving Kostoev a 4-3 lead. Desperate, the Armenian tried the same move and failed again. Kostoev held him on the mat to secure the fall.

Kiryl VALEUSKI (AIN) posted a dominant 7-1 win over Vladislav BYRLIA (AIN), in the 71kg final to win the gold medal. This win was more controlled than his 3-3 win at the U17 European Championships, a tournament in which Valeuski won gold as well.

Valeuski got a takedown when he tried to throw Byrlia using a headlock. No turns from par terre meant Valeuski led 3-1 when Byrlia tried a 'flying squirrel' but Valeuski smashed him on the mat to get four more points.

Mansi LATHER (IND)Mansi LATHER (IND) scores on Piper FOWLER (USA) during their 72kg quarterfinal at the U17 World Championships in Amman (Photo: 

India Perfect

India maintained a 100 percent record on the first day of women's wrestling in Amman. All four wrestlers in action reached the gold-medal bouts in their respective weight classes, the only country to achieve such a result. Aditi KUMARI (IND) began the winning run at 43kg followed by NEHA (IND) at 57kg, PULKIT (IND) at 65kg and Mansi LATHER (IND) at 73kg.

Kumari defeated Aleksandra BEREZOVSKAIA (AIN), 8-2, in the semifinals and will take on Maria GKIKA (GRE) who became the first Greek wrestler in 22 years to reach a World Championships final in women's wrestling. She defeated Gabriela PALACIOS (MEX), 6-1 in the semifinals.

Two-time Asian U17 champion and returning bronze medalist Neha saw off Anna STRATAN (KAZ), 8-4 in the semifinals. She will face So TSUTSUI (JPN) who defeated Palina BRAHINETS (AIN), 3-0, all non-action points, in the final.

PULKIT (IND) claimed a 3-0 win against Maram ALY (EGY) to set up a final against Daria FROLOVA (AIN) who took a 4-0 lead before Uldana TILEUKHAN (KAZ) rallied to make it 4-4 but did not realize that it was Frolova who held criteria. Frolova moved into the final with a 5-4 win.

At 73kg, Asian U17 champion Mansi LATHER (IND) defeated returning champ Piper FOWLER (USA) in the quarterfinals and Khrystyna DEMCHUK (UKR) via fall in the semifinals. She will wrestle Hanna PIRSKAYA (AIN) for the gold after Pirskaya pinned Makia KIMURA (JPN) in the other semifinal.

The only category without an Indian in the final was 49kg. Utaha YUI (JPN) and Na HU (CHN) will wrestle for gold as the former defeated Esra MAMMADLI (AZE), 9-0, while Hu rolled to an 11-0 win over Dounia ZITOUNI (ALG).

India did not send a wrestler in 49kg to the U17 Asian Championships in June. As per rules, a country can only send the same number of wrestlers to the World Championships as the continental championships.

fh

RESULTS

45kg
GOLD: Aslanbek KOSTOEV (AIN) df. Marat ATSHEMYAN (ARM), via fall (6-3)

BRONZE: Bekzhan BEISHEMBAEV (KGZ) df. Damir ABILDA (KAZ), via cautions (10-7)
BRONZE: Umidjon KAROMOV (UZB) df. Ahmad BADRADDINI (IRI), 9-1

51kg
GOLD: Turan DASHDAMIROV (AZE) df. Kutman KALBAEV (KGZ), 5-3

BRONZE: Sainath PARDHI (IND) df. Yerassyl MUSSAN (KAZ), 3-1
BRONZE: Abolfazl KARAMIEGAEI (IRI) df. Sargis HARUTYUNYAN (ARM), 7-1

60kg
GOLD: Aykhan JAVADOV (AZE) df. Vakhtang LOLUA (GEO), 4-1

BRONZE: Jordyn RANEY (USA) df. Vadym MATROS (UKR), 6-1
BRONZE: Farrukh YULDOSHEV (UZB) df. Ilias LAAOUINA (NED), 3-2

71kg
GOLD: Kiryl VALEUSKI (AIN) df. Vladislav BYRLIA (AIN), 7-1

BRONZE: Behruzbek VALIEV (UZB) df. Samvel TERTERYAN (ARM), 5-4
BRONZE: Giorgi ALADASHVILI (GEO) df. Joseph JETER (USA), 9-0 

92kg
GOLD: Danial IZADI (IRI) df. Ole STERNING (GER), 4-0

BRONZE: Vladimer MINADZE (GEO) df. Serkan BAKIR (TUR), 2-2
BRONZE: Fakhrikamol KOMILJONOV (UZB) df. Lyova SHUKHYAN (ARM), via fall (3-3)

Women's Wrestling Semifinals

43kg
GOLD: Maria GKIKA (GRE) vs. Aditi KUMARI (IND)

SF 1: Maria GKIKA (GRE) df. Gabriela PALACIOS (MEX), 6-1
SF 2: Aditi KUMARI (IND) df. Aleksandra BEREZOVSKAIA (AIN), 8-2

49kg
GOLD: Utaha YUI (JPN) vs. Na HU (CHN)

SF 1: Utaha YUI (JPN) df. Esra MAMMADLI (AZE), 9-0
SF 2: Na HU (CHN) df. Dounia ZITOUNI (ALG), 11-0

57kg
GOLD: So TSUTSUI (JPN) vs. NEHA (IND)

SF 1: So TSUTSUI (JPN) df. Palina BRAHINETS (AIN), 3-0
SF 2: NEHA (IND) df. Anna STRATAN (KAZ), 8-4

65kg
GOLD: PULKIT (IND) vs. Daria FROLOVA (AIN)

SF 1: PULKIT (IND) df. Maram ALY (EGY), 3-0
SF 2: Daria FROLOVA (AIN) df. Uldana TILEUKHAN (KAZ), 5-4

73kg
GOLD: Hanna PIRSKAYA (AIN) vs. Mansi LATHER (IND)

SF 1: Mansi LATHER (IND) df. Khrystyna DEMCHUK (UKR), via fall (12-2)
SF 2: Hanna PIRSKAYA (AIN) df. Makia KIMURA (JPN), via fall (5-0)