#WrestleIstanbul

#WrestleIstanbul: Assakalov Leads Uzbekistan to Three GR Gold

By Vinay Siwach

ISTANBUL, Turkey (February 24) -- When the Uzbekistan team arrived in Istanbul, Turkey, for the Yasar Dogu, Vehbi Emre & Hamit Kaplan Ranking Series event, veteran wrestler Rustam ASSAKALOV (UZB) called a team meeting.

The former Olympic bronze medalist had only one piece of advice for the rest of his team members -- wrestle until the final whistle.

Using his experience, Assakalov led a trio of Uzbekistan wrestlers to gold-medal wins on the first day of the tournament, including the 97kg title for himself.

"It was Uzbekistan's day," Assakalov said. "I am the leader of the team, and they follow me. But everyone fought really well today. Even the wrestlers who could not win gold fought until the end."

Islomjon BAKHRAMOV (UZB) caused a stir at 63kg when he blanked world champion Victor CIOBANU (MDA) in the final. At 67kg, Mahmud BAKHSHILLOEV (UZB) shut down Morten THORESEN (NOR) to win gold, 5-2. Their third champ was Assakalov, who defeated upcoming Finish wrestler Arvi SAVOLAINEN (FIN), 5-1, in the 97kg gold-medal bout.

Turkey had two champions as Adem UZUN (TUR) won the 55kg gold, and Osman YILDIRIM (TUR) won the 130kg gold after Turkish legend Riza KAYAALP (TUR) suffered a shocking pin in the semifinal.

Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan had a solo champion each.

Islam ABBASOV (AZE) stunned world champion Zurabi DATUNASHVILI (SRB) at 87kg and Yernar FIDAKHMETOV (KAZ) won 60kg gold against Ekrem OZTURK (TUR), 7-1.

But with a mix of youth and experience, Uzbekistan stole the show.

Debuting at 97kg, Assakalov set an example about how to wrestle without pressure. He had a remarkable day overall outscoring his opponents 26-4.

Against Arvi SAVOLAINEN (FIN), who finished fifth in Tokyo, Assakalov was in complete control. Savolalian admitted that wrestling the veteran was a lesson for him.

"I usually wrestle in Europe so it was good to get some bouts against Asian wrestlers," he said. "I wrestled two from Kazakhstan, one from India and even the veteran Assakalov. I learned that I can beat them it's just a matter of who's day it is."

Thursday was clearly Assakalov's as he managed to get a four after beginning with a stepout. The throw from a headlock caught his opponent off guard. He was called passive in the second period but his 5-1 lead was enough to give him the gold.

Having Rio bronze medalist Elmurat TASMURADOV (UZB) in the corner was of great help  for the young team. Tasmuradov was a constant among all the gold medal bouts.

BAKHRAMOV Islomjon BAKHRAMOV (UZB) blanked Victor CIOBANU (MDA) in the 63kg final. (Photo: UWW / Kadir Caliskan)

At 63kg, Ciobanu, hoping for a winning start to the season, ran into the buzzsaw Bakhramov in the final.

Bakhramov, born in Samarkand, took no time in building a 5-0 lead after Ciobanu was hit with passivity. The Uzbek extended his lead to 7-0 after Ciobanu was called for fleeing the mat. The former Asian champion closed out the match before the conclusion of the first period with a takedown and won the match, 9-0.

Bakhramov scored a win via fall over Taleh MAMMADOV (AZE) in his first bout before defeating Dastan KADYROV (KGZ), 9-1, in the semifinals.

It was Bakhramov's third Ranking Series gold medal and second straight as he had won last year's Poland Open Ranking Series.

Bakhshilloev followed Bakhramov by beating Thoresen, who was called passivity and gave up two rolls from the par terre position. Coming into the second period, Bakhshilloev led 5-0 but surrendered an inactivity point and a stepout, cutting his lead to 5-2.

The group will now fly to Mongolia for the Asian Championships and try to challenge Greco-Roman powerhouse Iran at the continental championships.

beka kandelakiBeka KANDELAKI (AZE), left, pinned Riza KAYAALP (TUR) in the 130kg semifinal. (Photo: UWW / Kadir Caliskan)

Kayaalp stunned

Kayaalp was on his way to another Ranking Series gold, but Beka KANDELAKI (AZE) clamped his arm mid-roll and flattened the four-time world champion to his back, and secured a pin, silencing a hostile local crowd.

But the 130kg still went to Turkey as Yildirim defeated the Azerbaijan wrestler, 3-1, in the final.

Kayaalp came back to win the bronze medal, warming himself up for the next month's European Championships in Budapest.

Islam AbbasovIslam ABBASOV (AZE) celebrates his victory over Zarubi DATUNASHVILI (SRB). (Photo: UWW / Kadir Caliskan)

Azerbaijan did have a champion in Istanbul as Abbasov kept Datunashvili at bay. The Serbian was called passive early but showed strong defense from the par terre position before securing the stepout to lead 1-1 on criteria.

Before the break, Datunashvili scored another stepout to extend his lead 2-1, taking a step closer to victory.

Abbasov was called passive in the second period, but again, Datunashvili failed to score from par terre.

With 20 seconds remaining, Abbasov scored from a head-pinch exposure and secured a 3-3 lead. However, a desperate attempt from Datunashvili cost him two more points, giving Abbasov the 6-3 win.

Fidakhmetov's gold at 60kg denied the home country a second straight gold medal of the day. Scoring all his seven points in the first period, Fidakhmetov gave up one for inactivity in the second period.

Wrestling continues tomorrow with the remaining three Greco-Roman weights and four women's wrestling weight classes in action. Bouts will begins 1030 local time.

FidakhmetovThe four medal winners at 60kg in Istanbul. (Photo: UWW / Kadir Caliskan)

Day 1 Greco-Roman Results

55kg
GOLD: Adem UZUN (TUR) df Amangali BEKBOLATOV (KAZ), 6-5
BRONZE: Dogus AYAZCI (TUR) df Marlan MUKASHEV (KAZ), 5-1

60kg
GOLD: Yernar FIDAKHMETOV (KAZ) df Ekrem OZTURK (TUR), 7-1

BRONZE: Yernur FIDAKHMETOV (KAZ) df Ahmet UCAR (TUR), 9-8
BRONZE: GYANENDER (IND) df Eldaniz AZIZLI (AZE), via injury default

63kg
GOLD: Islomjon BAKHRAMOV (UZB) df Victor CIOBANU (MDA), 9-0

BRONZE: Ahmet UYAR (TUR) df Abdurahman ALTAN (TUR), via cautions
BRONZE: Taleh MAMMADOV (AZE) df Dastan KADYROV (KGZ), 8-0

67kg
GOLD: Mahmud BAKHSHILLOEV (UZB) df Morten THORESEN (NOR), 5-1

BRONZE: Meiirzhan SHERMAKHANBET (KAZ) df Kaly SULAIMANOV (KGZ), 10-0
BRONZE: Volkan CAKIL (TUR) df Furkan YILDIZ (TUR), via injury default

87kg
GOLD: Islam ABBASOV (AZE) df Zurabi DATUNASHVILI (SRB), 6-3

BRONZE: Metehan BASAR (TUR) df Mehmetali KUCUKOSMAN (TUR), 1-1
BRONZE: Ali CENGIZ (TUR) df Umalt DAUDOV (KAZ), 10-2

97kg
GOLD: Rustam ASSAKALOV (UZB) df Arvi SAVOLAINEN (FIN), 5-1

BRONZE: Felix BALDAUF (NOR) df Abdul CEBICEBI (TUR), 4-2
BRONZE: Beytullah KAYISDAG (TUR) df Islam UMAYEV (KAZ), 9-0

130kg
GOLD: Osman YILDIRIM (TUR) df Beka KANDELAKI (AZE), 3-1

BRONZE: Muminjon ABDULLAEV (UZB) df Alimkhan SYZDYKOV (KAZ), 4-1
BRONZE: Riza KAYAALP (TUR) df Rafal  KRAJEWSKI (POL), 9-0

#WrestleZagreb

World C'ships Day 5 WW 53kg, 62kg, 68kg and 72kg Highlights

By Ken Marantz & Vinay Siwach

ZAGREB, Croatia (September 17) -- Women's Wrestling will continue at the World Championships in 53kg, 62kg, 68kg and 72kg in Zagreb.

WATCH LIVE | LIVE MATCH ORDER | DAY 6 RESULTS

62kg semifinals
SF 1: Sakura MOTOKI (JPN) vs. Orkhon PUREVDORJ (MGL)
SF 2: Ok Ju KIM (PRK) vs. Amina TANDELOVA (UWW)

13:40: Sakura MOTOKI (JPN) worked on five different takedowns before securing the fall over Esther KOLAWOLE (NGR) and reach the 62kg semifinals. Motoki, the Paris Olympic champion, is cashing her first world title.

13:45: Orkhon PUREVDORJ (MGL), a world champion in 2017, with two big headlocks in her 5-1 victory over Adaugo NWACHUKWU (USA). She returns to the World Championships semifinals to face Olympic champion Motoki.

13:42: Ok Ju KIM (PRK) not only advances to the 62kg semifinals, she avenges her loss in the final of this year's Asian Championships MANISHA (IND) with a solid 8-0 victory. Kim accumulates all of her points in the first period, topping each of her two takedowns with a 2-point roll or exposure.

13:37: The activity clock is just about to run out on Amina TANDELOVA (UWW) when she not only gets a score, her 4-point arm throw sends Ana GODINEZ (CAN) sailing onto her back in their 62kg quarterfinal. Tandelova doesn't let the opportunity get away and she secures the fall at 2:02.

53kg semifinals
SF 1: Lucia YEPEZ (ECU) vs. ANTIM (IND)
SF 2: Haruna MURAYAMA (JPN) vs. Hyongyong CHOE (PRK)

13:32: In a battle of young stars, Jin ZHANG (CHN) and ANTIM (IND) square off in the 53kg quarterfinals. Antim gets on board with a go-behind before powering her way to another takedown for a 4-0 lead. A similar takedown for Antim and she races to a 6-0 lead. Zhang fires one back and catch Antim off guard to score two points and cut the lead to 6-2 at the break. Zhang with high pressure and gets the reward with a takedown and two lace turns for an 8-6 lead. Antim gets a reversal for an 8-7 score but she has only 18 seconds to score two points for a win. She remains calm and scores the takedown to win 9-8 for a place in the semifinals at 53kg.

13:30: Olympic silver medalist Lucia YEPEZ (ECU) gets the first takedown against Emma MALMGREN (SWE) and then turns her for a 4-0 lead. Malmgren tries hard in the second period but she can only score a takedown to make it 4-2 as Yepez wins 4-2.

14:29: Haruna MURAYAMA OKUNO (JPN) wrestles tentatively to start against a defensive opponent, Zeynep YETGIL (TUR), gaining just an activity point without taking a shot in the first period of their 53kg quarterfinal. But the three-time world champion finds an opening in the second, scoring with a single leg. She then gets behind twice as Yetgil starts to show fatigue and the Japanese advances with a 7-0 victory.

14:28: Hyogyong CHOE (PRK) continues her impressive run, storming to an 11-0 victory over Maria PREVOLARAKI (GRE) in their 53kg quarterfinal. Choe goes ahead in the first period with a takedown and two lace-lock rolls -- albeit the referee gave her more than ample time to execute them -- then added a takedown and exposure in the second.

68kg semifinals
SF 1: Buse TOSUN (TUR) vs. Ami ISHII (JPN)
SF 2: Yuliana YANEVA (BUL) vs. Jia LONG (CHN)

13:20: Buse TOSUN (TUR) gets the first passivity call against Adela HANZLICKOVA (CZE) and the Czechia wrestler leads 1-0 at the break. Tosun on board in the second period with a point before a takedown helps her take a 3-1 lead with a minute remaining. Hanzlickova gets stepout but it's too little too late as Tosun wins 3-2 for a place in the 68kg semifinal.

13:18: Yuliana YANEVA (BUL) scores two takedowns in the last two minutes of the second period, giving her a come-from-behind 8-4 victory over Kateryna ZELENYKH (ROU) and a place in the 68kg semifinals. Yaneva opened the scoring with a takedown and gut wrench, only to fall behind on criteria when Zelenkykh scored a takedown on each side of the break.

13:18: Ami ISHII (JPN) and Kennedy BLADES (USA) in a big quarterfinals at 68kg. Ishii blasts with a takedown and then exposure for two more to lead 4-0 against Kennedy BLADES (USA). She uses the arm-dram to score another takedown and lace for an 8-0 lead inside the first two minutes. Blades gets on board with a stepout to make it 8-1. Both scramble but Ishii scores a takedown for a 10-1 lead at the break. Ishii takes some time but manages to power her way to the match winning takedown. A 12-1 victory for Ishii as she reaches the semifinal.

13:17: In an high-profile all-Asian clash in the 68kg quarterfinals with little action, Jia LONG (CHN) scores a takedown in the final seconds to finish off a 4-1 victory over two-time Olympic medalist Meerim ZHUMANAZAROVA (KGZ).

72kg semifinals
SF 1: Nurzat NURTAEVA (KGZ) vs. Alla BELINSKA (UKR)
SF 2: Nesrin BAS (TUR) vs. Zelu LI (CHN)

13:05: Nurzat NURTAEVA (KGZ) with four takedowns against Alexandria GLAUDE (USA) to secure a place in the 72kg semifinals with an 8-4 win.

13:03: After Nesrin BAS (TUR) receives an activity point, Alexandra ANGHEL (ROU) goes on the attack as the first-period clock in winding down. Can she finish it off in time? Instead, Bas whizzers her over onto her back and completes the fall with one second to go to earn the spot in the 72kg semifinals.

13:01: Zelu LI (CHN), the Asian champion at 68kg, barges into the 72kg semifinals with a 10-0 victory over Bolortungalag ZORIGT (MGL). Li takes Zorigt directly to her back and, although she can't complete the fall, she adds a gut wrench. Another takedown and two more turns and she's the winner in 1:45.

13:00: Alla BELINSKA (UKR) steps over and catches Pauline LECARPENTIER (FRA) flat on the mat to secure the fall at 72kg and advance to the semifinal.

12:55: In the last match before the quarterfinals, Asian champion MANISHA (IND) keeps Astrid MONTERO (VEN) at bay at 62kg. Manisha got two points for two passivity calls against Montero who scored one point for the same. But Manisha hangs on for a 2-1 victory. This also means that European champion Iryna BONDAR (UKR) will return empty-handed.

12:45: Olympic champion Sakura MOTOKI (JPN) had just made a leg attack when Nikolett SZABO (HUN) called out injured. She seemed in a lot of pain having injured her knee. She had to carried off the mat on a stretcher. Motoki advances to quarterfinals at 62kg.

12:37: Veteran Orkhon PUREVDORJ (MGL), eight years removed from her lone world championship, stays on track at 62kg with a comprehensive 10-0 victory over three-time European bronze medalist Veranika IVANOVA (UWW).

12:31: European champion Maria PREVOLARAKI (GRE) makes short work of Kseniya STANKEVICH (UWW) to advance to the 53kg quarterfinals, taking her straight to her back and recording a fall at 1:26.
 
12:28:
Jin ZHANG (CHN), last year's world silver medalist at 55kg, looks impressive in posting her second straight one-sided win at 53kg when she takes out Natalia MALYSHEVA (UWW) with a 10-1 victory. Only an activity point early on kept her from keeping a perfect sheet, but she quickly followed it with a takedown as she took a 6-1 lead at the break.

12:27: Jonna MALMGREN (SWE) scored one takedown to lead 2-1 against Roksana ZASINA (POL) and then held her fort with that lead. Zasina tried desperately for an attack but failed to score and gave up a takedown. Malmgren wins 5-1 at 53kg.

12:25: Bilyana DUDOVA (BUL) cannot find a way to break the defenses of Ok Ju KIM (PRK) who scores four different takedowns in their 62kg bout to win 8-0

12:18: Jia LONG (CHN), the 2024 world champion at 65kg, gives up the big points to Delgermaa ENKHSAIKHAN (MGL) in their 68kg match, but she piles up more than enough for a 12-6 victory.

12:17: Adaugo NWACHUKWU (USA) gives up a 4-point takedown early in her 62kg clash with Johanna LINDBORG (SWE), then erupts for 13 points in the second period, including a pair of 4-pointers of her own, for a 13-6 victory. 

12:05: Ami ISHII (JPN), gunning for a second straight world title after winning last year at 72kg, continues her quest at 68kg by rolling to a 10-0 victory over Noemi SZABADOS (HUN) to advance to the quarterfinals. Ishii scores a single-leg takedown just as she receives an activity point to go up 3-0. After a second similar takedown, she goes to laces and finishes off the win ni 2:42.

12:04: Defending 68kg champion Buse TOSUN (TUR) gets the fall over Grabriela DA ROCHA (BRA) when she put her back on the mat in the second period and held on till the fall was called.

12:03: Haruna MURAYAMA (JPN) takes a 3-0 lead at the break in her 53kg bout against Annika WENDLE (GER). In the second period, she works a takedown and roll to make it 7-9. Another takedown on the edge puts her at 9-0 before she finishes the bout 11-0.

11:57: An upset on Mat C, as Zhamila BAKBERGENOVA (KAZ), aiming for her fifth world medal but first gold at 72kg, will have to settle for bronze at best after falling 3-3 on criteria to Nurzat NURTAEVA (KGZ). Nurtaeva trails 2-1 after giving up a second activity point, but scores a single-leg takedown with :51 left. Bakbergenova gains a stepout to tie, but trails on criteria, and Nurtaeva fends off a final attack to clinch the win.

11:56: Asian champion Hyogyong CHOE (PRK) goes to the lace lock after a second takedown, and three rolls later she advances at 53kg with a 10-0 victory over Namuuntsetseg TSOGT OCHIR (MGL) in 2:20.

11:55: Olympic silver medalist Lucia YEPEZ (ECU) comes from 4-1 down to get a fall over Laura HERIN AVILA (CUB) and advance at 53kg. Yepez is looking to add to her bronze medal from 2023. 

11:51: A takedown and four quick lace-lock rolls and two-time Asian bronze medalist ANTIM (IND) advances at 53kg with a 10-0 win over Carla JAUME SOLER (ESP).

11:49: Sol Gum PAK (PRK) tries to score the one point she needs to beat Yuliana YANEVA (BUL) at 68kg but Yaneva defends everything that is thrown at her to win 7-6 and advance.

11:49: Two-time Olympic medalist and 2021 world champion Meerim ZHUMANAZAROVA (KGZ) opens her campaign with a 10-0 win over Aniseta ACOSTA (ASA) at 68kg. Zhumanazarova had a pair of 4-point moves, the second coming with a hip throw that made it a 10-point difference. The match ended when Acosta fought off her back.

11:45: Kennedy BLADES (USA), the Paris Olympic silver medalist at 76kg who has dropped down to 68kg, gets off to rousing start, overwhelming RADHIKA (IND) for an 11-0 victory in 1:38. Blades gets a 4-point takedown thwarting a Radhika counter to take a 7-0 lead within the first minute. She then bulls her opponent over for a takedown, then caps the proceedings with a classic gut wrench.

11:40: Six-time Asian medalist Bolortungalag ZORIGT (MGL) is trailing 2-1 against Jyoti BERWAL (IND) in the second period of their 72kg bout when she does what Mongolian's do best -- hit her opponent with a headlock throw, giving her a victory by fall.

11:39: In a case of anything you can do, I can do better, LILI (CHN), a 2023 world bronze medalist at 65kg, scores three exposure tilts after a takedown to give her a 9-7 win over Birgul SOLTANOVA (AZE) at 62kg. Lili's sequence came after Soltanova had gone ahead with three consecutive 2-point lifts to counter a single-leg attempt by Lili.

11:35: After a longish defense from Hyeonyeong PARK (KOR), Adela HANZLICKOVA (CZE) secures the fall as Park runs out of steam.

11:28: Three-time world champion Haruna MURAYAMA (JPN), looking to fill the 53kg spot following the move up to 57kg by compatriot and Paris Olympic gold medalist Akari FUJINAMI (JPN), opens with an 11-0 victory over Shokhida AKHMEDOVA (UZB). Murayama leads 3-0 in the second period when she scores with a snapdown takedown, then reels off four gut wrenches.

11:32: Ok Ju KIM (PRK) with a fall over Aurora CAMPAGNA (ITA) in her opening bout at 62kg. Kim just too strong for Campagna

11:30: Alexandria GLAUDE (USA) opened the scoring against Masako FURUICHI (JPN) with a stepout before getting a point for inactivity of Furuichi. The Japanese bounces back with a takedown but gives up a reversal as Glaude leads 3-2. She hangs on to that lead to upset Furuichi

11:16: World 55kg silver Jin ZHANG (CHN) works on five different takedowns to beat Felicity TAYLOR (USA), 10-0, at 53kg with 31 seconds left on the clock.

11:11: In a battle of former European champions at 68kg, 2021 world silver medalist Khanum VELIEVA (UWW) gets a stepout just moments after giving up an activity point to Yuliana YANEVA (BUL). But Yaneva dominates the second period, scoring a takedown-gut wrench combination, then putting Velieva onto her back and securing a fall at 4:31.

11:09: Nice win for South America as Astrid MONTERO (VEN) scores two takedowns in the second period to knock off European champion Iryna BONDAR (UKR) 6-4 at 62kg. Montero gets behind for an early takedown, only to see Bondar come back with a takedown and quick exposure to lead 4-2 at the break.

10:50: Two-time Asian silver medalist RADHIKA (IND) gives up a 4-point takedown to the back to Laura GODINO (ITA) at the start of their 68kg qualification bout. That appears to wake up the Indian, who comes back with a takedown and stepout to cut the gap at the break. Another takedown puts Radhika ahead 5-4, then she ends the match by muscling Godino down and over for a fall with just over a minute left.

10:45: World 72kg champion Ami ISHII (JPN), back down at 68kg, starts her bid to win her second world title with a 10-0 victory over Manola SKOBELSKA (UKR) in a minute and 31 seconds.