#WrestleOslo

#WrestleOslo: Sadulaev, Snyder Stay on Course for Final; Tynybekova Closer to 2nd Title

By Vinay Siwach

OSLO, Norway (October 4) -- The crowd at the Jordan Amfi arena could well witness a rematch of the Olympic final for the second time in three days. After Hassan YAZDANI (IRI) avenged his loss to David TAYLOR (USA) Sunday at 86kg, it looks like Abdulrashid SADULAEV (RWF) and Kyle SNYDER (USA) will also meet in the final of the World Championships. The two had met in the 97kg final two months ago at the Tokyo Olympics.

Sadulaev and Snyder reached the semifinals at 97kg in Oslo in controlled wins in the quarterfinals. The two can only meet in the final Tuesday as they are on the either side of the bracket being the top two seeds.

Sadulaev survived a small scare in the quarters when Aliaksandr HUSHTYN (BLR) threw him for big four after Sadulaev had taken a 6-0 lead with two takedowns and two gut wrenches. But like a calm champion he continued his work and secured a 9-4 win scoring three stepouts in the second period.

Wrestling simultaneously on Mat D, Snyder humbled fellow 2019 World Championships bronze medalist Magomedgadji NUROV (MKD) 11-0. The American continued his workman like style and ended with a comfortable win. He will now face Mojtaba GOLEIJ (IRI) who defeated Alisher YERGALI (KAZ) 6-1 in the other quarterfinal.

Iran's good record in Oslo was only spoiled at 70kg when junior world champion Erfan ELAHI (IRI) suffered a heartbreaking 8-8 loss to Ernazar AKMATALIEV (KGZ). In a seesaw battle which Elahi thought he had won, Akmataliev was called the winner only after they challenged the final call which had the Iran wrestler winning 9-8.

On replays, the jury decided that Akmataliev began the action and scored two points before giving up two. But since Elahi got the last point, the extra point for reversal which was awarded initially was taken away, making the score 8-8 with the Kyrgyzstan wrestler leading on criteria. The two traded takedowns throughout the bout. He will now face Evgenii ZHERBAEV (RWF) who had a comfortable win over Batmagnai BATCHULUUN (MGL) via fall. 

In the other semifinal, Magomedmurad GADZHIEV (POL) will face Azerbaijan's young sensation Turan BAYRAMOV (AZE) who defeated two-time world medalist James GREEN (USA) 6-5. Bayramov led 4-1 after a takedown and gut but it was his defence that Green could not penetrate in the first period. He once almost got it but Bayramov scored a go behind to lead 6-1. The only time Green hit a double, he scored four points with 12 seconds remaining. But he could not score one more which would have given him the win.

Gadzhiev and Zurabi IAKOBISHVILI (GEO) were tied 1-1 with Georgian wrestler leading on criteria but the Poland wrestler used all his experience to score a takedown and a stepout to finish the bout 4-1.

Two women's wrestling weight classes were also in action Monday with Olympic silver medalist Aisuluu TYNYBEKOVA (KGZ) barely making it to the semifinals. First up for her was two-time cadet world champion and 18-year-old OZAKI (JPN) who led 4-0 early in the bout. But she was not able to finish the third takedown and Tynybekova scored two of her own and then one at the end to win 6-4.

In the quarterfinals, Veranika IVANOVA (BLR) led 6-4 against her and then went for a headlock, looking for four but failed to execute the move and Tynybekova controlled her in that grip and got the fall. Ilona PROKOPEVNIUK (UKR) will be her next opponent as she defeated Ana GODINEZ GONZALEZ (CAN) via fall.

Kayla MIRACLE (USA) will face Lais NUNES DE OLIVEIRA (BRA) in the other semifinal after she scored a victory by technical superiority 13-2 against Alina KASABIEVA (RWF). Nunes de Oliveira managed to scrape past Aleksandra WOLCZYNSKA (POL) 3-2.

At 55kg, 2019 World bronze medalist Olga KHOROSHAVTSEVA (RWF) defeated Esther KOLAWOLE (NGR) 12-2 to set up a semifinal against Tsugumi SAKURAI (JPN). The Japanese wrestler defeated Poland veteran Roksana ZASINA (POL) 4-0.

India's PINKI (IND) will wrestle Nina HEMMER (GER) in the semifinal after a victory via fall over Aisha UALISHAN (KAZ). Hemmer was trailing 2-2 on criteria against Andreea ANA (ROU) and tried a takedown. Ana, in defence, grabbed hold of Hemmer's neck which was called a four on review and that gave Hemmer a 3-2 win.

Quarterfinals Results:

FS 97kg
Mahamed ZAKARIIEV (UKR) df Suleyman KARADENIZ (TUR), 6-3
Abdulrashid SADULAEV (RWF) df Aliaksandr HUSHTYN (BLR), 9-4
Mojtaba GOLEIJ (IRI) df Alisher YERGALI (KAZ), 6-1
Kyle SNYDER (USA) df Magomedgadji NUROV (MKD), 11-0

FS 70kg
Evgenii ZHERBAEV (RWF) df Batmagnai BATCHULUUN (MGL), via fall
Ernazar AKMATALIEV (KGZ) df Erfan ELAHI (IRI), 8-8
Magomedmurad GADZHIEV (POL) df Zurabi IAKOBISHVILI (GEO), 4-1
Turan BAYRAMOV (AZE) df James GREEN (USA), 6-5

WW 62kg
Ilona PROKOPEVNIUK (UKR) df Ana GODINEZ GONZALEZ (CAN), via fall
Aisuluu TYNYBEKOVA (KGZ) df Veranika IVANOVA (BLR), via fall
Lais NUNES DE OLIVEIRA (BRA) df Aleksandra WOLCZYNSKA (POL), 3-2
Kayla MIRACLE (USA) df Alina KASABIEVA (RWF), 13-2

WW 55kg
Olga KHOROSHAVTSEVA (RWF) df Esther KOLAWOLE (NGR), 12-2
Tsugumi SAKURAI (JPN) df Roksana ZASINA (POL), 4-0
PINKI (IND) df Aisha UALISHAN (KAZ), via fall 
Nina HEMMER (GER) df Andreea ANA (ROU), 3-2

#WrestleAthens

U17 World Wrestling Championships 2025: Day 1 Highlights

By Vinay Siwach

ATHENS, Greece (July 28) -- The World U17 Championships kicks off in Athens, Greece with five Greco-Roman weight classes. Iran, Azerbaijan, Georgia will be in contention to win the team title.

WATCH LIVE | LIVE MATCH ORDER | FULL PREVIEW

READ THE REPORT OF ALL SEMIFINALS HERE

18:00: Welcome back to the World U17 Championships coverage! The semifinals in 48kg, 55kg, 65kg, 80kg and 110kg will begin now!

15:00: The semifinals will begin at 18:00 hours local time! The opening ceremony will be at 17:00 hours. Stay tuned!

14:45: Asian domination at 55kg! Alkham ABDIRASULOV (KGZ) will face Aditya GUPTA (IND) and Makhdi BAROTOV (TJK) will take on Nurali ASKAR (KAZ) in the semifinals.

14:35: Asian champion HARDEEP (IND) beats European bronze medalist Anatolii NOVACHENKO (UKR), 9-0, with turns from par terre and enters the semifinals at 110kg.

14:30: Yazdan DELROUZ (IRI) holds his positions good and gets both par terre points in the match against Hu Anshi NUERLEBIEKE (CHN) and makes it to the 110kg semifinal.

14:20: Aditya GUPTA (IND) with a takedown in the final second of the bout to beat Rakhman GAMIDOV (UKR) 4-2. He was down 2-2 on criteria but manages to wrap his arm around Gamidov to score a takedown. Ukraine challenges for time but it was inside the last second.

14:02: Madness on Mat A! Luka MARTIASHVILI (GEO) was trying to stop a pin from Nijat YEYLAGALIYEV (AZE) and turns it around and manages to pin the Azerbaijan wrestlers for the win at 80kg!

13:50: Makhdi BAROTOV (TJK) continues his good show at 55kg as he pins Osman OZDEMIR (TUR) and advances to the quarterfinals.

13:45: Asian silver medalist Sadriddin TULKINBOEV (UZB) drops his 55kg 1/8 final to Aditya GUPTA (IND), 4-1. Gupta did not get any turn from par terre but Tulkinvoev scored a stepuot in the second period and made it 1-1. But due to a new rule currently being tested by UWW, a 1-1 scoring in Greco-Roman will see the wrestler who scored the first point, win on criteria. Gupta keeps his attacks and there is no par terre for Tulkinboev. Uzbekistan throw a challenge for "nothing", as the review team said. Gupta wins 4-1

13:25: Rakhman GAMIDOV (UKR) digs deep and pulls off a four-pointer later in the match to win 5-2 against Naru SEMBA (JPN) at 55kg. He was down 2-1 with just 30 seconds left.

13:15: Big win for ANUJ (IND) at 65kg as he beats Asian bronze medalist Xusan GIEZIDINOV (UZB) 8-0. High pace match from Anuj to block Geizidinov.

13:05: Janes NAZARYAN (ARM), European silver medalists, reaches the quarterfinal at 65kg, after a technical superiority 9-1 win over Huseyn ISGANDAROV (AZE).

12:50: Nijat YEYLAGALIYEV (AZE) bounces back from 5-0 down by blocking a throw from Mardanbek MAKHKAMBAYEV (KAZ) and gut wrenches his way to a 13-5 win at 80kg.

12:46: Ismail BEREKET (TUR) continues his big-throwing streak as he beats Stepan DANHEL (CZE) 9-0 in a minute 50 seconds at 80kg. The European bronze medalist is looking better with every win.

12:45: How do you win with one second remaining?! Kaisei YAMAMOTO (JPN) hits a four-pointer in the final second after getting thrown by Martin MANJIKYAN (ARM) and wins 6-6. He can't believe it as well

12:40: Zhanarbek SEIITOV (KGZ) uses the gut-wrench to great effect and wins his 48kg bout against Fuhua KANG (CHN) 10-2. He gets Asian bronze medalist Bunyod HASANOV (UZB) in the next round after Hsanov pulled off a late throw against Amirmohammad HAJIVAND (IRI) and win 4-3.

12:35: HARDEEP (IND), Asian champ at 110kg, gets both the par terre points and beats Baktur SOVETKHAN (KAZ), 2-0, in the opening round.

12:30: Quick work from Sayidamir NEMATOV (UZB) at 110kg as he beats European champ Rihad IBRAHIMLI (AZE) 10-0 in the first period.

12:20: Hu Anshi NUERLEBIEKE (CHN) was so calm despite being down 8-1 against Vasileios BOUNTOULIS (GRE) at 110kg. Nuerlebieke locked Bountoulis in bodylocks twice in last 15 seconds and threw him for two four-pointers to win 9-8. He was thrown for two four-pointers in the first period by Bountoulis.

12:15: A 2024 Asian U15 champ Makhdi BAROTOV (TJK) stops European silver medalist Giorgi CHACHUA (GEO) 4-2 in their 55kg bout.

11:50: Alkham ABDIRASULOV (KGZ) pulls off a stunning win over Amirreza  TAHMASBPOUR (IRI) 5-3 at 55kg. Abdirasulov scores a correct throw to lead 3-3 on criteria but Iran challenges for no points. The challenge is won but on review, it's four points for Abdirasulov wins the bout

11:20: Pan-Am champion Arseni KIKINIOU (USA) has a hard time against Janes NAZARYAN (ARM), who is an European silver medalist, as he cannot get a turn but Nazaryan manages to score. Nazaryan wins 4-1

11:05: Big match between Asian champion Abdulaziz KHOLMIRZAEV (UZB) and European silver medalist Benediktas BUBELEVICIUS (LTU). Kholmirzaev and Bubelevicius go back-and-forth but Kholmirzaev manages to hang on for an 11-6 win.

10:45: Luka MARTIASHVILI (GEO), who finished 5th at 92kg at the European Championships, is back at 80kg and finishes with two front headlocks to win 9-0 in just 21 seconds against David VILK (CRO).

10:40: Big throws right from the start in Athens! European bronze medalist Ismail BEREKER (TUR) launches Samarth GOVEKAR (IND) for big throws and wins the opening bout at 80kg 11-0 in just a minute and 28 seconds.

10:30: Welcome to the World U17 Championships in Athens. It is being held at the iconic Ano Liosia Olympic Hall, the venue where wrestling competition during the 2004 Olympics was held.