#WrestleOslo

#WrestleOslo: Ciobanu Gives Moldova 1st-Ever World Greco Gold; Iran Takes 2

By Ken Marantz

OSLO, Norway (October 9) -- Victor CIOBANU (MDA) got off another of his flashy big-point throws, and this one helped make the dynamo the first world Greco-Roman champion in Moldova history -- while preventing another former Soviet republic from getting its first.

Ciobanu scraped together a 9-3 victory over Zholaman SHARSHENBEKOV (KGZ) in the 60kg final at the World Championships in Oslo on Saturday night, giving himself a belated birthday present of an elusive world title.

"This gold medal means a lot to me and to my coach, because I never had a world gold medal, nor did he," said Ciobanu, who turned 29 on Thursday. "I have made the dream of both of us come true."

It was also a good day for Iran, which had not had a world Greco champion since 2014 but got two on the eighth day of the competition with victories from Tokyo Olympic bronze medalist Mohammadhadi SARAVI (IRI) at 97kg and Aliakbar YOUSOFIAHMADCHALI (IRI) at 130kg.

Ciobanu, one of the most dynamic competitors in the sport, had come close to a title in his five previous trips to the World Championships, coming away with a silver medal from Budapest in 2018.

Victor CIOBANUVictor CIOBANU (MDA) won his first-ever world gold medal. (Photo: UWW / Martin Gabor)

But in the battle between wrestlers from former Soviet republics mutually seeking a first-ever Greco champion, he put together a near-flawless performance to make it to the top of the podium at last.

The final was a rematch of his quarterfinal clash with Sharshenbekov at the Tokyo Olympics, which Ciobanu won by 9-0 technical fall. His victory on Saturday was not as one-sided, but he never seemed in danger, even after spotting the 2018 world 55kg silver medalist a 3-0 first-period lead.

"I knew that the final match would be tough, because we wrestled each other at the Olympics," Ciobanu said. "I know he is a great wrestler, he is younger than me, I respect him a lot. Wrestling is wrestling, but it’s important to remain human. I am thankful to him for that amazing match."

In the second period, Ciobanu took advantage of his first chance in the par terre position by letting rip a 4-point reverse lift. It wasn't as spectacular as his 5-point head-over-heels throw in his semifinal victory against Gevorg GHARIBYAN (ARM), but it got the job done.

A 2-point penalty for a head butt and unsuccessful challenge point increased Ciobanu's lead to 8-3, before he topped off the scoring with a stepout.

For Ciobanu, who finished out of the medals at the 2019 World Championships in Nursultan, the victory makes up for his loss in the 2018 final to Sergey EMELIN (RWF).

"I was in a hurry in the last world final, that was my mistake," he said."Emelin is a strong wrestler as well. Now I feel I am stronger. He represents the Russian Wrestling Federation team, it’s always difficult to compete against them. I respect him a lot, I have a lot of friends in the that team. They respect me as well."

Moldova now can claim a world champion in all three styles. Ciobanu's triumph came four days after Irina RINGACI (MDA) became the country's first-ever female world champion when she won the 65kg gold. The lone freestyle title was won in 1994, three years after independence.

Aliakbar YOUSOFIAHADCHALIAliakbar YOUSOFIAHADCHALI (IRI) claimed the gold medal after beating Zurabi GEDEKHAURI (RWF). (Photo: UWW / Tony Rotundo)

At 130kg, Yousofiahmadchali became Iran's first-ever world champion in the heaviest Greco weight class when he wore down Zurabi GEDEKHAURI (RWF), scoring four stepouts in a 5-1 victory.

"It's like a party in my hometown and my mother is the happiest right now so I am thankful that I could make her happy," Yousofiahmadchali said. "I can't believe I am the first and I dedicate this to the people of Iran."

The win came just over a month after Yousofiahmadchali defeated 2021 European bronze medalist Gedekhauri 10-2 at the Gedza Memorial tournament in Serbia, and continues a hot streak the Iranian has been on for the past two years.

In 2019, Yousofiahmadchali won world junior and U23 titles, as well as the Asian junior, and this year won his first Asian senior crown.

The Georgian-born Gedekhauri, who beat Tokyo Olympic silver medalist Iakobi KAJAIA (GEO) in the semfinals, came away with a silver medal in his first appearance at a World Championships at age 27.

Mohammadhadi SARAVIMohammadhadi SARAVI (IRI) celebrates after winning the 97kg gold medal. (Photo: UWW / Kadir Caliskan)

A short time before Yousofiahmadchali's victory, Saravi knocked off Alex SZOKE (HUN) 3-1 in the 97kg final to give Iran its first world Greco gold since Hamid SOURIAN (IRI) won at 59kg in 2014 in Tashkent.

"I am proud to make the people of Iran proud and dedicate this medal to them," Saravi said. "I was expecting this medal in the Olympics but could not get it, so this meant something special here."

Saravi, a 2019 world U23 bronze medalist and 2019 world junior champion, scored with a gut wrench from the par terre in the first period to go up 3-0, then kept from being rolled himself when Szoke gained the top position and a passivity point in the second.

The two had previously met in the quarterfinals at the 2018 World Junior Championships, which Saravi won 6-1 en route to the gold. They were in opposite brackets in Tokyo, where Szoke finished fifth.

"I have achieved everything because of the support of the Iran people, so if that continues, I can win it in the Olympics," Saravi said.

Oskar MARVIKOskar MARVIK (NOR) defeated Tokyo medalist Yasmani ACOSTA (CHI) to give Norway their only medal at the World Championships. (Photo: Martin Gabor) 

In the bronze-medal matches, Oskar MARVIK (NOR) sent the home crowd into a frenzy, giving it what had been waiting for all week when he defeated Yasmani ACOSTA (CHI) 1-1 at 130kg.

Marvik, a two-time European U23 bronze medalist, won on last-point criteria after both gave up passivity points as the two spent the majority of the match chest-to-chest, powering forward like bison fighting for territory.

"It's incredible," Marvik said. "It's like a dream come true. It was a difficult time with COVID before the Olympic qualifications. To end the season like this at home court. It's amazing.

"I was nervous but I got inspired by the captain of the team and role model [Stig Andre] BERGE. He used the same tactics to win the bronze in Rio."

The Cuban-born Acosta, who finished fifth at the Tokyo Olympics, had become Chile's first-ever world medalist when he won a bronze in 2017, but was unable to repeat the feat in front of the partisan crowd of his opponent.

Kajaia picked up his second world bronze with a 2-1 win in a physical clash over three-time world junior champion Osman YILDIRIM (TUR) in the other 130kg match.

Both giants received a passivity point and were put in the par terre position, but neither could budge the other. Kajaia had the last-point criteria, and received an additional point for an unsuccessful challenge of an uncalled fleeing.

At 60kg, former world champion Stepan MARYANYAN (RWF) picked up his fourth straight world medal when he made the most of his shot at par terre to defeat 2020 European champion Gevorg GHARIBYAN (ARM) 3-1.

The veteran Maryanyan, the 2019 European champion at 63kg, executed a classic gut wrench in the second period, and that was all he needed to add the bronze to his bronze in 2017, gold in 2018 and silver in 2019.

Murad MAMMADOV (AZE) wasn't able to convert in two tries at par terre, but the two passivity points he received as the aggressor gave him the second 60kg bronze with a 2-0 victory over Maksim KAZHARSKI (BLR).

Kazharski, a 2018 world U23 bronze medalist, squandered his lone chance at par terre late in the match, when he failed to position his hands correctly and the referee put the wrestlers back on their feet.

The win was a repeat of Mammadov's 3-0 victory over Kazharski in the quarterfinals of the 2018 European Championships, where he went on to win the silver medal. He added the world U23 bronze that year, as well.

At 97kg, Artur SARGSIAN (RWF) filled in admirably for missing Olympic champion Musa EVLOEV (RWF), hitting a 5-point throw off the par terre to take his first senior world medal with a 6-1 victory over Nikoloz KAKHELASHVILI (ITA).

Sargsian, the 2021 European U23 champion and a two-time world junior medalist, denied the Georgian-born Kakhelashvili from becoming the first Italian world medalist since 1987.

Kakhelashvili, who began competing for Italy in 2018, was the European silver medalist in 2020 and bronze medalist this year.

The United States got its lone Greco medal after a strong showing from its freestyle team when G'Angelo HANCOCK (USA) won by injury default over Peter OEHLER (GER) for the other 97kg bronze.

Hancock, who placed seventh at the Tokyo Olympics, had dominated the match and was leading 3-0 when Oehler rolled his ankle as the American executed an arm drag to a takedown. He could not continue, ending the match at 3:34.

Meanwhile, the Russian Wrestling Federation team has already clinched the Greco team title with 130 points going into the final day, when the last three titles will be decided. The next two places are also set, with Iran second with 96 points and Azerbaijan third with 87.

Oslo podiumThe four medalists at 97kg at the World Championships in Oslo. (Photo: UWW / Martin Gabor)

Day 8 Results

Greco-Roman

60kg (19 entries)
GOLD: Victor CIOBANU (MDA) df. Zholaman SHARSHENBEKOV (KGZ), 9-3

BRONZE: Stepan MARYANYAN (RWF) df. Gevorg GHARIBYAN (ARM), 3-1
BRONZE: Murad MAMMADOV (AZE) df. Maksim KAZHARSKI (BLR), 2-0

63kg (21 entries)
Semifinal: Leri ABULADZE (GEO) df. Erik TORBA (HUN), 7-1
Semifinal: Meysam DALKHANI (IRI) df. Taleh MAMMADOV (AZE) by TF, 9-0, 1:47

67kg (27 entries)
Semifinal: Mohammadreza GERAEI (IRI) df. Ramaz ZOIDZE (GEO), 7-6
Semifinal: Nazir ABDULLAEV (RWF) df. Almat KEBISPAYEV (KAZ), 10-5

87kg (25 entries)
Semifinal: Zurabi DATUNASHVILI (SRB) df. Turpan BISULTANOV (DEN), 5-1
Semifinal: Kiryl MASKEVICH (BLR) df. Istvan TAKACS (HUN) by Fall, 5:42 (12-6)

97kg (27 entries)
GOLD: Mohammadhadi SARAVI (IRI) df. Alex SZOKE (HUN), 3-1

BRONZE: Artur SARGSIAN (RWF) df. Nikoloz KAKHELASHVILI (ITA), 6-1
BRONZE: G'Angelo HANCOCK (USA) df. Peter OEHLER (GER) by Inj. Def., 3:32 (3-0)

130kg (22 entries)
GOLD: Aliakbar YOUSOFIAHMADCHALI (IRI) df. Zurabi GEDEKHAURI (RWF), 5-1

BRONZE: Iakobi KAJAIA (GEO) df. Osman YILDIRIM (TUR), 2-1
BRONZE: Oskar MARVIK (NOR) df. Yasmani ACOSTA (CHI), 1-1

#WrestleOslo

Snyder was better prepared at Olympics: Sadulaev after 'easy' win to 5th World title

By Vinay Siwach

OSLO, Norway (October 8) -- They had not wrestled each other for three years since that night in Budapest but now they faced each other twice in two months. Abdulrashid SADULAEV (RWF) and Kyle SNYDER (USA) put on a show at the Tokyo Olympics in August and this week in Oslo, Norway. Sadulaev, who lost to the American in 2017 Worlds, avenged that loss at the 2018 Budapest edition. A third bout was expected in Nursultan but Snyder lost in the semifinal while Sadulaev reached the final.

The 1-1 tie was broken in Tokyo, the sport's grandest stage, when Sadulaev beat Snyder 6-3 to claim his second Olympic gold. When the two met in Oslo, it was a question of Snyder keeping up with the Russian Tank or Sadulaev making it an one-sided affair.

"I really wanted to win in Oslo, because five-time world champion sounds better than four-time champion," Sadulaev said.

He did become a five-time world champion when he beat Snyder 6-0 in the 97kg final and also led the Russian Wrestling Federation to yet another team title win at the World Championships. The fact that it came down to this bout to decide the title was history repeating itself. Back in 2017, it was the same case but Snyder then defeated a new-to-97kg Sadulaev and claimed the title for USA.

"Years of work pays off and thank God I won again," Sadulaev said. "I always have tough matches with Snyder. I could barely get off the mat at the Olympics, today I was tired at the end, but everything went well."

Sadulaev took some time to catch his breath after the bout in Tokyo and sat matside before finally leaving the arena. But in Oslo, his conditioning looked better and a change in strategy helped him pull off the win with ease.

"In Tokyo, I immediately began to attack, but here in the first period I decided to see what he would do," he said. "I understood his tactics, and in the second period I did not let him take the lead."

Now a five-time world champion Sadulaev explained more about his approach to a 'Synderlaev' bout and said he doesn't really plan for a bout against his American opponent.

"I don't have any special tactic for the matches against Snyder," Sadulaev said. "I know he is trying to wear me out. So I was trying to make him wrestle my way and not let him set his own rules. In the end, I noticed that he got more worn out than me.

"Personally, I think he was better prepared physically and mentally at the Olympics. I was more tired there. It was easier to win here." 

Sadulaev had a 5-0 lead after the first period. Snyder was called for passivity and as soon as the activity clocked ended, the RWF wrestler pounced with a takedown to increase the lead and then exposed the American with a gut. Snyder did try to attack but was called passive for his lack of activity and won 6-0.

Asked whether this was the most difficult win for him, Sadulaev said that the 2018 win in Budapest still remains a special win for him given that it was a revenge bout.

"Then I had been waiting for that match for a whole year, I wanted to take revenge," he said. "And at the Olympics or today, I didn’t expect to wrestle with him. Here, the most important thing was to win the gold medal of the World Championship. Of course, it's nice that our rivalry with Snyder makes people more interested in our sport."

Despite leading the head-to-head tie 3-1, Sadulaev believes that it won't be easy going forward to wrestle Snyder. "Before the third match, we could not meet for three years, but now it is the second match in two months. There will be no undefeated wrestler, sooner or later everyone loses, it's just that now is my time." 

Sadulaev injured his knee right before the Olympics and it was doubted that he would struggle with the injury. But he said that he would have fought in the Olympics even if he had no leg.

"I have not yet fully recovered from the injury, but in Oslo I felt better than in Tokyo," he said. "I think that now I deserve a little rest and I will heal. My personal coach Shamil OMAROV is next to me - he is like my father, my elder brother during competitions and training camps, and he prepares me in a special way for each bout."

It is still unclear when the new season will start for the star wrestler but he said that till he is healthy, he will continue wrestling at the World Championships with no target on how many medals he wants to win at the megaevent.

"I want to enjoy the victory and have a little rest, and then I will think," he said. "With the help of God there will be no injuries, there will be no problems. I will wrestle for as long as I have strength and health. I am not planning to leave the sport before Paris Olympics. I will keep preparing for the upcoming tournaments.

"For now I will go for a vacation. I will spin the globe and go wherever my finger points."

Sadulaev was leading a young team to Oslo with only him and Tokyo bronze medalist Artur NAIFANOV (RWF) wrestling at the event. Tokyo Olympics champions Zavur UGUEV (RWF) and Zaurbek SIDAKOV (RWF) decided to skip the Oslo event. 65kg bronze medalist Gazhdimurad RASHIDOV (RWF) was also missing from the event.

The 26-year-old said that it brought added responsibility to him and explained that the experience of wrestling at the World Championships will be invaluable for the team.

"The longer I wrestle, the more responsibility it brings," he said. "Before, no one knew my wrestling style, today everyone knows how I wrestle, and I have to work hard to keep winning.

"I am glad that the number of world champions in Russia has increased. There are only two Olympians in our team. The rest of the guys are young. Some wrestled worse than they could actually do because we know that it is sometimes more difficult to win the national championships than the world championships. They went through tough trials, came here, but someone lacked experience, anything can happen. I will say one thing that everyone has a great future, the main thing is never giving up."