#WrestlePlovdiv: Chkhikvadzes Guide Georgia to GR Team Title

Wednesday, March 9, 2022 - 20:09 By Vinay Siwach

PLOVDIV, Bulgaria (March 9) -- When Diego and Giorgi CHKHIKVADZE (GEO) returned from the Junior World Championships in Ufa, Russia last year, they were upset. The two had to be satisfied with silver medals after losing their finals.

On their way back to Georgia, they promised each other that in the next competition, both are going to take home a gold.

Both Chkhikvadze's kept their promise they won the gold medals at 67kg and 72kg at the U23 European Championships in Plovdiv, Bulgaria.

“We have gold together at Junior Euros,” Diego said. “We have silver medals in Ufa but we did not want to win silver here.”

Georgia had five finalists in five weight classes Wednesday and three ascended to the top of the podium. Azerbaijan and Netherlands managed to win a gold each as Greco-Roman came to an end at the first continental championships of the year.

“When we had the camp in Tiblisi before this tournament, we prepared really hard,” Sergo NINUA, coach of the Georgian team, said. “We expected more gold medals but even four is good for now.”

The four gold along with three silver and bronze helped their team win the team title with 183 points. Turkey finished second with 156 points while Azerbaijan was third with 102 points.

But the highlight of the day for Georgia was the two Chkhikvadzes winning back-to-back gold medals.

Diego CHKHIKVADZE (GEO), red, defeated Kadir KAMAL (TUR) in the 67kg final. (Photo: UWW / Kadir Caliskan)

Diego, a Batumi native, began the trend as he eked out a tough win against Kadir KAMAL (TUR), 3-2. He took the lead when Kamal was called passive and extended it with a body lock throw for two points.

In the second period, Kamal got the first point but he could not get a point when he stopped halfway in a gut-wrench. With the score still 3-1 in Diego's favor, Kamal managed to get a stepout from 2-on-1 after Turkey won the challenge.

Kamal tried his best to score in the final 24 seconds but it remained 3-2 as Diego added a U23 Euro title to his two junior Euro titles.

“I had an anke injury,” Chkhikvadze said. “I was not sure of coming here but I wanted to win the gold and it was a tough final but feels good to win it.”

Giorgi CHKHIKVADZE (GEO), blue, throws Abdullah TOPRAK (TUR) for two points. (Photo: UWW / Kostadin Andonov)

Giorgi followed him by winning the second gold of the night for his country. Incidentally, he also beat a Turkey wrestler in Abdullah TOPRAK (TUR).

“The final was one crazy bout because we both wanted to win,” the 21-year-old said. “It was more of a brawl because in wrestling you don't want to give anything to your opponent.”

Wrestling at 72kg, Toprak was called passive in the first period and Giorgi managed to get a throw from par terre to lead 3-0. But a 2-on-1 position resulted in Toprak coming out on top and cutting the lead to just one point, 3-2.

But Giorgi led by three points, 5-2, after Toprak received his second warning for an eye poke. An aggressive open-hand attack resulted in another warning and two points against Toprak.

But after the break, Giorgi was called passive and Toprak scored from a gut wrench to trail 7-5 with 1:52 remaining on the clock.

The final two minutes were filled with several warnings for both wrestlers from the referee but the Georgian managed to hong on for the win.

“My weight had 20 participants including the U23 world champion [Idris BAEV (GER)],” he said. “That is why this gold is a little special.”

Giorgi, who began wrestling when was six years old, had upset Baev Tuesday in the quarterfinal with a 9-3 score.

But as the two posed for photos with kids in the Kolodrom Plovdiv stadium, they did that with a warning that they are not brothers.

“Of course, people confuse us for brothers,” Giorgi said. “When people click photos with us, they tag us wrongly on social media. But we don't mind it because we are best friends and it's okay if someone calls us brothers.”

Giorgi KATSANASHVILI (GEO) celebrates after winning the 97kg gold. (Photo: UWW / Kostadin Andonov)

The third gold for Georgia came at 97kg when Giorgi KATSANASHVILI (GEO) overcame Markus RAGGINGER (AUT), 5-3 in the final.

Katsanashvili scored via a takedown early in the bout but interestingly, he was called passive later. Ragginger, looking for Austria's first gold at U23 level, managed to score from par terre to lead 3-2.

But as the second period began, he was called passive and Katsanashvili once again took the lead, this time 3-3 on criteria. The Georgian was called passive again but the third passivity gave no points to his opponent, who failed to score from par terre this time.

Trailing on criteria, Ragginger went for a pushout but his momentum gave an easy takedown to Katsanashvili who won the bout 5-3.

“It's great for us that we win the team title in 2017, 2018, 2019 and now 2022,” Ninua said. “Being a small country, you can understand how happy we are.”

The only two wrestlers managed to stop Georgia from having a perfect night.

The match-winning four-point throw from Nihat MAMMADLI (AZE), blue. (Photo: UWW / Kadir Caliskan)

At 60kg, Nihat MAMMADLI (AZE) needed just over two minutes to go past Irakli DZIMISTARISHVILI (GEO), 9-0 in the final.

The former cadet World and European champion showed some crafty wrestling, throwing his opponent twice to secure the win. He started with a takedown and then a big throw for two more points. The referees called it a leg-foul but Azerbaijan challenged the call and won, extending Mammadli's lead to 4-0.

In just one minute and 37 seconds, he finished with a gut wrench but this time, he made a leg foul. But he needed just 36 seconds more to finish the bout, executing a four-pointer.

Marcel STERKENBURG (NED) celebrates after winning the 82kg gold medal. (Photo: UWW / Kadir Caliskan)

Junior world champion Marcel STERKENBURG (NED) was the other wrestler to win the gold. He defeated Beka GURULI (GEO), 6-2 in the 82kg final.

After a slow start in the first period in which he was called passive, Sterkenburg up the tempo and just before the break, he scored via a pushout.

He led 2-1 after Guruli's passivity in the second period but failed to score from par terre. With just 36 seconds remaining, Sterkenburg managed to get a headlock and four points to win 6-1.

His brother Tyrone, who was a silver medalist at 87kg at the Junior Worlds, jumped up to 97kg and won a bronze medal.

Wednesday also saw women's wrestling and world champion Irina RINGACI (MDA) and defending champion Anastasia NICHITA (MDA) made it to the 68kg and 59kg gold medal bout respectively.

Gerogia

RESULTS

GR Medal Bouts

60kg
GOLD: Nihat MAMMADLI (AZE) df Irakli DZIMISTARISHVILI (GEO), 9-0

BRONZE: Vitalie ERIOMENCO (MDA) df Mukremin AKTAS (TUR), 6-4
BRONZE: Tigran MINASYAN (ARM) df Krisztian KECSKEMETI (HUN), 7-6

67kg
GOLD: Diego CHKHIKVADZE (GEO) df Kadir KAMAL (TUR), 3-2

BRONZE: Sahak HOVHANNISYAN (ARM) df Ignazio SANFILIPPO (ITA), 5-3
BRONZE: Niklas OEHLEN (SWE) df Konstantinas KESANIDI (LTU), 9-0

72kg
GOLD: Giorgi CHKHIKVADZE (GEO) df Abdullah TOPRAK (TUR), 7-5

BRONZE: Shant KHACHATRYAN (ARM) df Attila TOESMAGI (HUN), via fall
BRONZE: Idris IBAEV (GER) df Haavard JOERGENSEN (NOR), 2-1

82kg
GOLD: Marcel STERKENBURG (NED) df Beka GURULI (GEO), 6-2

BRONZE: Semion BREKKELI (MDA) df Vasile COJOC (ROU), 1-1
BRONZE: Branko KOVACEVIC (SRB) df Erik LOESER (GER), 6-3

97kg
GOLD: Giorgi KATSANASHVILI (GEO) df Markus RAGGINGER (AUT), 5-3

BRONZE: Tyrone STERKENBURG (NED) df Marcus WORREN (NOR), 5-1
BRONZE: Mustafa OLGUN (TUR) df Richard KARELSON (EST), 9-0

WW Semifinals

50kg
GOLD: Szimonetta SZEKER (HUN) vs Emma LUTTENAUER (FRA)

SF 1: Szimonetta SZEKER (HUN) df Shahana NAZAROVA (AZE), via fall
SF 2: Emma LUTTENAUER (FRA) df Zehra DEMIRHAN (TUR), 5-2

55kg
GOLD: Elnura MAMMADOVA (AZE) vs Andreea ANA (ROU)

SF 1: Elnura MAMMADOVA (AZE) df Mihaela SAMOIL (MDA), 11-4
SF 2: Andreea ANA (ROU) df Zeynep YETGIL (TUR), 2-1

59kg
GOLD: Magdalena GLODEK (POL) vs Anastasia NICHITA (MDA)

SF 1: Magdalena GLODEK (POL) df Morena DE VITA (ITA), 10-9
SF 2: Anastasia NICHITA (MDA) df Anna SZEL (HUN), via inj. def.

68kg
GOLD: Irina RINGACI (MDA) vs Asli DEMIR (TUR)

SF 1: Irina RINGACI (MDA) df Sophia SCHAEFLE (GER), 10-0
SF 2: Asli DEMIR (TUR) df Nigar MIRZAZADA (AZE), via fall

76kg
GOLD: Bernadett NAGY (HUN) vs Kamile GAUCAITE (LTU)

SF 1: Bernadett NAGY (HUN) df Mehtap GULTEKIN (TUR), 11-0
SF 2: Kamile GAUCAITE (LTU) df Marion BYE (NOR), 3-0

#WrestleAstana

Asian Championships Freestyle Preview

Thursday, March 30, 2023 - 15:05 By Mark Pickering

ASTANA, Kazakhstan ( March 30) -- The 2023 Asian Championships will mark the launch of this year's continental chanmpionsips season in Astana from April 9 to April 14 in the Zhaksylyk Ushkempirov Martial Arts Palace. Kazakhstan's capital city, which hosted the 2019 World Championships, will welcome Asia's best wrestlers for the 36th edition of the six-day event.

As always, the last two days of the tournament are reserved for freestyle wrestling with 10 gold medals on offer. Undoubtedly the biggest star of the tournament is the World champion Ramham AMOUZAD (IRI) who will enter Astana as the defending champion in 65kg.

Amouzad earned his first continental title last year after beating Bajrang PUNIA (IND) and would like to repeat the same in a field that includes world bronze medalist TUMUR OCHIR (MGL), who has been in terrific form this year, winning the Zagreb Open, Ryoma ANRAKU (JPN), Ulukbek ZHOLDOSHBEKOV (KGZ) and Umidjon JALOLOV (UZB).

Both Amouzad and Tumur Ochir are aware of the threat their opponents possess. Jalolov won the U20 World Championships and also has a win over Tumur Ochir from last year. He will be Uzbekistan's biggest bet going into the Paris Olympics.

Zholdoshbekov is once again jumping to 65kg after doing so at last year's Bolat Turlykhanov Cup. He has enjoyed a lot of success at 61kg but with the Olympics coming up, making a place for himself at 65kg would be the right move.

Ryoma ANRAKU (JPN) finished second Olympic champion Takuto OTOGURO (JPN) at the Emperor's Cup but will be at the Asian Championships after the latter decided to sit out. Anraku won a bronze medal at U23 World Championships last year.

At 57kg, returning silver medalist Rakhat KALZHAN (KAZ), 25, won bronze at the Ibrahim Moustafa Ranking Series event in February to start his season. He suffered a loss to Ravi KUMAR (IND) in the final last year but the three-time Asian champion is not registered this year due to a leg injury.

Kalzhan will back himself to make the run to the final again this year. However, 2021 world silver medalist Alireza SARLAK (IRI), world bronze medalist Zanabazar ZANDANBUD (MGL), Asian bronze Rikuto ARAI (JPN) and U23 world champion AMAN (IND) have the capabilities to be in the final.

Zandanbud graced the Asian showcase’s podium in 2017. The 27-year-old, who has won medals at his continental championships at the U17, U20 and senior levels, finished second at the event six years ago. His title aspirations this year have been boosted by his victory at the Mongolian National Championships in March.

Arai will be a significant medal threat in the men’s lightest weight category. Nippon Sport Science University graduate Arai, who turned 25 in January, finished 11th at the season-opening Zagreb Open but has a continental pedigree.

Aman has shown his ability to make comeback in the second period and can upset any wrestler on a given day as we saw at the U23 World Championships in which he won gold at 57kg.

After his two outings at 57kg, Tokyo Olympian Minghu LIU (CHN) returns to the 61kg in which he has enjoyed his sole continental championships podium appearance in 2019. The 25-year-old has work to do to return to form after stuttering displays at the Zagreb Open and Ibrahim Moustafa Ranking Series events this year.

Ibrahim Moustafa gold medallist Taiyrbek ZHUMASHBEK UULU (KGZ) and All Japan Championships winner Kodai OGAWA (JPN) could also come to the fore in the 61kg category in Kazakhstan.

Zhumashbek Uulu won the U23 World Championships over Arsen HARUTYUNYAN (ARM) last year and is also a U23 Asian champion.

The 70kg weight class is the one with the most entries and also the most open category in Astana. Tokyo Olympian at 65kg Morteza GHIASI CHEKA (IRI) can be favored over other wrestlers but is not an outright favorite. U20 world bronze medalist Mulaym YADAV (IND) is known for his surprising runs at tournaments and can cause an upset.

U23 Asian champion Orozobek TOKTOMAMBETOV (KGZ) will fancy his chances as well along with U20 world bronze medalist in 65kg Yoshinosuke AOYAGI (JPN). If Kazakhstan decides to put Syrbaz TALGAT (KAZ) as the first choice, he will be the favorite to win the weigh class.

At 74kg, Nurkozha KAIPANOV (KAZ) undoubtedly has the best chance to win gold after reaching the final in the previous two editions. He won the gold in 2021 but was second in 2022. Kazakhstan is yet to send him or Darkhan YESSENGALI (KAZ)w who has the experience of the senior level and will be riding on home support in Astana to claim his first Asian Championships medal.

He won the Asian Championships at 79kg in 2021 but Byungmin GONG (KOR) is still waiting for the big break at 74kg. That edition in '21 was the only competition in his career that Gong wrestled at 79kg and has been a regular at 74kg. However, he has only an Asian Games bronze medal to show for it. But with many top wrestlers not entered at 74kg, this could be his chance to get his first breakthrough at 74kg.

YASH (IND) and Hossein ABOUZARIPASHKOLAEI (IRI) can be his biggest challenges as both will come into the tournament with hopes of their own. Yash, a U20 world bronze medalist from 2021, finished ninth in the last year's edition.

Bekzod ABDURAKHMONOV (UZB) will be wrestling at 79kg at the Asian Championships. (Photo: UWW / Kadir Caliskan)

Tokyo Olympic bronze medalist Bekzod ABDURAKHMONOV (UZB) is chasing a third Asian Championships gold medal. The 33-year-old ruled his continent in 2015 and 2017 either side of winning Asian Games titles in 2014 and 2018. But he will be at 79kg in Astana instead of 74kg. He tried dabbling with the idea of moving to 86kg but after suffering losses, he has moved down to 79kg.

Abdurakhmonov will make the short trip from Uzbekistan to neighboring Kazakhstan with an appetite for hardware in the 79kg field, just as he achieved in Egypt in February with a bronze medal at the Ibrahim Moustafa tournament.

Former U20 Asian Championships gold medalist Amirhossein KAVOUSI (IRI) has made a bright start to his year by clinching silver at the Ibrahim Moustafa in Egypt. The 24-year-old could make a strong impression in Astana.

Byambadorj BAT ERDENE (MGL), a former U23 world bronze medalist, saw his medal tilt fall away at the Asian Championships in the bronze medal bout in 2022 as the 27-year-old narrowly lost out to Daichi TAKATANI (JPN) to match his 2018 fifth-place finish at 74kg. He finished with a silver medal at the Bolat Turlykhanov Cup in June at 74kg but it is yet to be seen how he will fair at 79kg.

Reigning Asian Championships winner Azamat DAULETBEKOV (KAZ) will be the man to watch in the 86kg category. The 29-year-old struck world bronze in 2022 and could prove to be unstoppable in front of a partisan crowd. Three-time world medalist Alireza KARIMI (IRI) will be aiming to spoil the host nation’s 86kg gold medal plans.

The 29-year-old is a big-event performer and has won three Asian Championships titles -- 2015, 2017 and 2019 -- in addition to Asian Games glory in Indonesia in 2018. The two wrestled at the World Cup tie between the All-World team and Iran in Round 3 and the Iran wrestler walked away with a 4-0 win.

The category also has Hayato ISHIGURO (JPN), a former U20 world champion, looking for his first Asian Championships medal. If his Zagreb Open performance is any indication, Ishiguro should end the medal drought in Astana.

Veteran Gwanuk KIM (KOR) will be looking for his second Asian medal after winning a bronze in 2021. He has finished fifth on three different occasions.

Four-time Asian Championships medalist Deepak PUNIA (IND) will be crucial to his country’s fortunes in Kazakhstan as part of a new-look team. Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games gold medalist Punia, 22, missed the World Championships last year with a hand injury. Wrestling is in the DNA of the Indian hotshot, who followed his father into the sport, and he could top the Asian Championships podium (92kg) for the first time at the senior level.

The category will also house Arashk MOHEBI (IRI) who won the Dan Kolov tournament in March and will have his spirits high. U23 Asian champion Rizabek AITMUKHAN (KAZ) will also present a strong challenge to the field.

Not to forget Gankhuyag GANBAATAR (MGL) and Ajiniyaz SAPARNIYAZOV (UZB) who possess the ability to defeat any wrestler on a given day.

World medalist and former Asian champion Mojtaba GOLEIJ (IRI) will be the favorite to win his second continental title. The former U23 world champion faces little to no competition at 97kg. Awusayiman HABILA (CHN) and Takashi ISHIGURO (JPN) are the only two wrestlers who can force Goleij onto the backfoot.

World silver medalist Lkhagvagerel MUNKHTUR (MGL) is looking for his first Asian title at 125kg. (Photo: UWW / Kadir Caliskan)

World silver medalist Lkhagvagerel MUNKHTUR (MGL) is returning to the mat after four months, a forced break due to an injury. He will be in an interesting battle with the young star and U20 world champion Amirreza MASOUMI (IRI). While Munkhtur has the experience, Masoumi will use his conditioning to put Munkhtur under pressure.

Tokyo Olympian Zhiwei DENG (CHN), 35, is also in the mix as he returns to the continental championships after four years. In 2019, he lost the 125kg final to Yadollah MOHEBI (IRI) in Xian, China. An elusive gold medal at a major event would be the crowning achievement of his long and fruitful career.

Former Asian Championships winner Yusup BATIRMURZAEV (KAZ) finished 12th at the Tokyo Olympics but has an equal chance to finish on the top of the podium like others. The 27-year-old began this season with a bronze medal at the Ibrahim Moustafa Ranking Series event.

To follow the Asian Championships action, download the UWW app -- The Home of Wrestling.

#WrestlePlovdiv: Chkhikvadzes Guide Georgia to GR Team Title

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Asian Championships Freestyle Preview