#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

#WrestleBudapest

Mammadli wins gold in Budapest; Georgia captures two on final day

By Vinay Siwach

BUDAPEST, Hungary (July 20) -- World and European champion Nihat MAMMADLI (AZE), five days short of his 23rd birthday, gave himself a birthday present and kept his World Championships preparations on track by winning the Budapest Ranking Series on Sunday.

Three months after winning the European title, Mammadli enjoyed a successful day in Budapest, winning gold at 60kg after beating SUMIT (IND), 5-1, in the final.

There were seven other gold medalist as the Ranking Series came to a close on Sunday. With this, the World Championships season will begin next week in Athens, Greece with the World U17 Championships.

Mammadli was put in par terre in the first period but as casual as he is, Mammadli defended any turn. He blocked Sumit's attempt to get a gut-wrench mid-turn and got two points. He got a bodylock to kick off second period and scored a takedown to make it 4-1. As Sumit was put in par terre, Mammadli further led 5-1. However, he was happy to not put any effort in attempting any turns.

Sumit tried getting a hold of Mammadli in the final two minutes but it to no avail and Mammadli won the final 5-1.

Earlier in the day, Mammadli defeated Georgij TIBILOV (SRB) in the semifinals, 3-2, in what was a rematch of the European final that was won by Mammadli.

Another European champion Emin SEFERSHAEV (UWW) captured gold medal in Budapest after he beat Marlan MUKASHEV (KAZ), 9-0, in the 55kg final.

Apart from the small hiccup he had in the semifinal against Ikhtiyor BOTIROV (UZB), Sefershaev had an top tournament, outscoring his opponents 27-7 in four bouts.

Botirov scored five points on Sefershaev but he was able to score five on him as well and won the bout the bout on criteria. In the final, Sefershaev did not have any trouble and rolled Mukashev four time from par terre to finish the bout.

At 63kg, Sergey EMELIN (UWW) denied Vitalie ERIOMENCO (MDA) a Ranking Series gold medal after beating him 5-0 in the final. Emelin scored points from par terre and kept the pressure in the second period as well and was not called passive. He held his 5-0 lead for six minutes of the bout to win gold medal.

Joni KHETSURIANI (GEO) emerged as the champion at 67kg after a final of two halves against Valentin PETIC (MDA), who unfortunately ended with another silver medal at the Ranking Series, his third this year. He has silver medals from Zagreb and Albania.

The final began with a quick takedown from Khetsuriani and he then lifted Petic for a suplex for four points. For the next throw, he performed a turn but it was ruled a below-the-waist foul and no points were awarded.

Georgia challenged asking for two points but the referees awarded one point for stepout on review, making the score 7-0 for Khetsuriani. Petric failed to break Khetsuriani's defense for the remaining 4:30 and dropped the final.

Hosts Hungary had a rather disappointing evening session as Robert FRITSCH (HUN) and Zoltan LEVAI (HUN) suffered losses in the 77kg and 82kg finals, respectively.

Fritsch was defeated 5-2 in the 77kg final by Sergei KUTUZOV (UWW) who had a 3-0 lead at the break in the final. Fritsch closed the gap to 3-2 with a stepout and par terre point but he failed to make a move from that position.

Kutuzov was happy defending but Fritsch pushed for a stepout to which Kutuzov circled and returned to center to get a point. A lost challenge late in the bout gave one more point to Kutuzov who won 5-2.

There was further disappointment for Hungary as Levai, moving up from 77kg to 82kg, suffered a 5-1 loss in the 82kg final against Adlet TIULIUBAEV (UWW).

After getting the par terre position in the first period, Levai failed to score any points. Tiuliubaev made no such mistakes and scored two turns from par terre in the second period and won 5-1.

At 97kg, Giorgi MELIA (GEO) came out as a clear winner as Hayk KHLOYAN (ARM) had no answer to Melia's aggressive style of wrestling in the final.

Melia rolled to a 3-1 victory to capture yet another gold medal for Georgia in Budapest.

With the fourth and final Ranking Series in the books, wrestlers will now receive seeds for the World Championships once the final entries are closed.

RESULTS

55kg
GOLD: Emin SEFERSHAEV (UWW) df. Marlan MUKASHEV (KAZ), 9-0

BRONZE: Denis MIHAI (ROU) df. Alpamys DASTANBEK (KAZ), 1-1
BRONZE: Anil MOR (IND) df. Ikhtiyor BOTIROV (UZB), 7-4

60kg
GOLD: Nihat MAMMADLI (AZE) df. SUMIT (IND), 5-1

BRONZE: Georgij TIBILOV (SRB) df. Seunghak KIM (KOR), 5-2 
BRONZE: Sadyk LALAEV (UWW) df. Galym KABDUNASSAROV (KAZ), 5-3

63kg
GOLD: Sergey EMELIN (UWW) df. Vitalie ERIOMENCO (MDA), 5-0

BRONZE: Yerzhet ZHARLYKASSYN (KAZ) df. Islomjon BAKHRAMOV (UZB), via inj. 
BRONZE: Dinislam BAMMATOV (UWW) df. Karen ASLANYAN (ARM), via fall

67kg
GOLD: Joni KHETSURIANI (GEO) df. Valentin PETIC (MDA), 7-0

BRONZE: Leri ABULADZE (GEO) df. Minseong KWON (KOR), 8-3
BRONZE: Haavard JOERGENSEN (NOR) df. Daniial AGAEV (UWW), 1-1

77kg
GOLD: Sergei KUTUZOV (UWW) df. Robert Attila FRITSCH (HUN), 5-2

BRONZE: Levente LEVAI (HUN) df. Sanan SULEYMANOV (AZE), 3-2
BRONZE: Sergei STEPANOV (UWW) df. Stoyan KUBATOV (BUL), 7-1

82kg
GOLD: Adlet TIULIUBAEV (UWW) df. Zoltan LEVAI (HUN), 5-1

BRONZE: Erik SZILVASSY (HUN) df. Beka MELELASHVILI (USA), 2-1
BRONZE: Jalgasbay BERDIMURATOV (UZB) df. Rafael IUNUSOV (UWW), 2-1

97kg
GOLD: Giorgi MELIA (GEO) df. Hayk KHLOYAN (ARM), 3-1

BRONZE: Murad AHMADIYEV (AZE) df. Ilia ERMOLENKO (UWW), 8-4
BRONZE: Markus RAGGINGER (AUT) df. Arvi SAVOLAINEN (FIN), 6-3