Zagreb Open: Amouzad vs Tevanyan for 65kg gold; Nolf, Aman in finals

Wednesday, January 10, 2024 - 08:59 By United World Wrestling Press

ZAGREB, Croatia (January 10) -- The season begins with the Zagreb Open Grand Prix in the Croatian capital. Freestyle will kick off action in seven weight classes. The Ranking Series provides points that will be used to seed the wrestlers for the Paris Olympics.

Watch all the action from the #WrestleZagreb Ranking Series event, FREE on UWW+ using CODE: ZAGREB100

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The gold medal bouts for the evening session

57kg: AMAN (UWW) vs. Wanhao ZOU (CHN)
61kg: Bekhbayar ERDENEBAT (MGL) vs. Andrii DZHELEP (UKR)
65kg: Rahman AMOUZAD (IRI) vs. Vazgen TEVANYAN (ARM)
70kg: Akaki KEMERTELIDZE (GEO) vs. Giorgi ELBAKIDZE (GEO)
74kg: Jason NOLF (USA) vs. Hossein ABOUZARIPASHKOLAEI (IRI)
86kg: Azamat DAULETBEKOV (KAZ) vs. Magomed RAMAZANOV (BUL)

14:40: Vazgen TEVANYAN (ARM) is not letting Sebastian RIVERA (PUR) do his things. Rivera had beaten Tevanyan in the World Championships semifinals but the Armenian avenges that loss with a 9-1 win in Zagreb. Tevanyan will take on Rahman AMOUZAD (IRI) in the 65kg final.

14:32: Jason NOLF (USA) with a 35-second pin over Georgios KOUGIOUMTSIDIS (GRE)! A strong headlock to put the Greek wrestler on the mat and Nolf kept him there to win and move into the final at 74kg.

14:18: We have our 57kg finalists. AMAN (UWW) won 11-0 against Roberti DINGASHVILI (GEO) while Wanhao ZOU (CHN) scored a takedown with 16 seconds left to beat Horst LEHR (GER) 4-3.

14:03: World bronze medalist Vazgen TEVANYAN (ARM) moves into the semifinals at 65kg after a 5-2 win over Jo MCKENNA (USA). He used a takedown and gut wrench in the first period to keep his lead.

13:55: A big result in the Iran national team context as Yones EMAMI (IRI), the first choice wrestler, drops his match against Hossein ABOUZARIPASHKOLAEI (IRI) 4-4 at 74kg. Emami disappointed with that result.

13:50: Georgios KOUGIOUMTSIDIS (GRE) is too much for Zelimkhan KHADJIEV (FRA) as the Greek wins 8-0. Khadjiev had some moves but wasn't strong enough to score on Kougioumtsidis who is now into the 74kg semifinals.

13:45: Dzhbrail GADZHIEV (AZE) hangs on for a 5-4 win over Quincy MONDAY (USA). The two were 4-4 with Gadzhiev leading on criteria but he scored a late stepout to claim a 5-4 win.

13:40: Chace MARSTELLER (USA) makes a huge comeback against Vladimeri GAMKRELIDZE (GEO) to win at 86kg. The Georgian raced to a 5-0 lead but Marsteller's conditioning helped him make it 8-5 for the win.

13:30: Aman works his way to an 11-0 technical superiority win over Richards at 57kg. Aman continued to attack throughout the six minutes and never let Richards make a comeback.

13:20: First of the big quarterfinals on Mat C. AMAN (UWW) takes on Zane RICHARDS (USA) at 57kg. This match will be followed by Chandler MARSTELLER (USA) vs Vladimeri GAMKRELIDZE (GEO) at 86kg, Zelimkhan KHADJIEV (FRA) vs Georgios KOUGIOUMTSIDIS (GRE) at 74kg and Vazgen TEVANYAN (ARM) vs Joseph MC KENNA (USA) at 65kg.

13:00: Another comeback man Bekhbayar ERDENEBAT (MGL) is at 57kg. He last wrestled at the Tokyo Olympics. Now he is in the quarterfinals with a 9-4 win over Joseph SILVA (PUR).

12:55: Georgios KOUGIOUMTSIDIS (GRE) rolls into the 74kg quarterfinals after a 9-1 win over Giorgi GOGRITCHIANI (GEO). He seems to have adjusted well to the lower weight class.

12:35: Vazgen TEVANYAN (ARM) was slow to get off the mark but raced to a 12-1 victory over Khamzat ARSAMERZOUEV (FRA) at 65kg. On Mat C, Joseph MC KENNA (USA) gets a lace to beat Ziraddin BAYRAMOV (AZE) 10-0

12:15: Rahman AMOUZAD (IRI) gets a 10-0 victory at 65kg. While he looks in control of his wrestling, his conditioning still looks off. He takes his time to walk off the mat after the bout.

12:00: Yones EMAMI (IRI) with a technical superiority win over Nuerlanbieke WURENIBAI (CHN) at 74kg. Emami missed out on a medal and Olympic qualification at the World Championships.

11:35: Osman NURMAGOMEDOV (AZE) and Chance MARSTELLER (USA) are squaring it off at 86kg. Marsteller put on the clock for passivity and Nurmagomedov goes 1-0 up at the break. Marsteller with a takedown in the second period and Nurmagomedov is called for passivity. Marsteller takes a 3-0 lead which Nurmagomedov fails to cover. Marsteller moves on 3-0 at 86kg.

11:15: Zelimkhan KHADJIEV (FRA), making a comeback after testing positive for a banned substance in 2019, begins with a pin over Ivan STOYANOV (BUL) at 74kg. It will be interesting to see how far he can go in this tournament.

11:00: Rahman AMOUZAD (IRI), who finished fifth at the World Championships, seems to have found his form back, at least by the looks of the first bout. He beats Abdullah TOPRAK (TUR), who is out after three cautions against him.

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10:42: Chance MARSTELLER (USA), moving up to 86kg, gets two takedowns on either side of the break to win 4-0 over Ceballos PEDRO (VEN).

10:30: World silver medalist at 79kg Vladimeri GAMKRELIDZE (GEO) makes a winning debut at 86kg. He beats U20 world champion Rakhim MAGAMADOV (FRA) 6-3 in Zagreb. On Mat C, Zahid VALENCIA (USA) doesn't have the same start as he falls to Valentyn BABII (UKR).

10:15: Deepak PUNIA (UWW) was up 2-0 after two activity points but world bronze medalist Azamat DAULETBEKOV (KAZ) got a takedown and gut wrench to make it 4-2 with under a minute left. He added another takedown to win the 86kg opening bout 6-2.

10:00: Welcome to the Zagreb Open! The first tournament of the season and we have around 600 wrestlers competition.

#WrestleBudapest

Long Tops Stacked 68kg Field for Budapest Ranking Series Gold

Friday, July 17, 2026 - 21:46 By Vinay Siwach

BUDAPEST, Hungary (July 17) -- In hindsight, Jia LONG's (CHN) failure to qualify for the 2024 Paris Olympic Games looks even more surprising. She was at the Tokyo Olympics, won a world silver in 2022 and was an Asian champion in 2023. Yet, she failed to book a ticket to Paris.

However, since missing the Paris Games, Long has put together one of the strongest runs in Women's Wrestling with a world title, a world bronze and an Asian title.

Entering the Budapest Ranking Series at 68kg, Long was among the favorites. The field, however, was one of the toughest assembled for a Ranking Series event, featuring European silver medalist Alina SHAUCHUK (BLR), Olympic silver medalist and Asian champion Meerim ZHUMANAZAROVA (KGZ), European bronze medalist Kateryna ZELENYKH (ROU), European champion Nesrin BAS (TUR), among others.

Jia LONG (CHN) won gold at 68kg in Budapest. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Amirreza Aliasgari)

Long opened with a 10-0 win over compatriot Zelu LI (CHN) but was quickly tested by young Sophia SCHAEFLE (GER), escaping with a close 4-2 win. Shauchuk awaited her in the quarterfinals and the Belarus wrestler got the first takedown to lead 2-0. However, Long used her powerful gut-wrench to complete an 8-2 win.

European champion Bas also managed to score two points on Long but could not sustain the pressure as Long won 7-2 to set up a final against Zhumanazarova, who had a simpler path to the final.

Aptly, the marquee match between Zhumanazarova and Long, Asian champions at 68kg and 72kg respectively, was scheduled as the last match of the session.

Long was aware of Zhumanazarova's defensive tactics but gave a taste of her own medicine in the gold medal bout. In the first period, Long got on a single leg attack and finished with a takedown. She then used her trademark high gut-wrench to expose Zhumanazarova and open up a 4-0 lead.

The second period went scoreless as Long shut down Zhumanazarova's offense, whatever little there is, keeping her lead for the win as the clock expired.

The gold medal capped an impressive campaign for Long as she builds towards 2026 World Championships and the 2028 Olympic Games, the only major event at which she is yet to win a medal.

Neha Strikes Gold

NEHA (IND) captured her second straight Ranking Series gold medal at 59kg, edging Abigail NETTE (USA), 6-4, in the final. Nette struck first with a stepout to take a 1-0 lead, but it was short-lived as Neha responded with a double-leg takedown for two points.

Just before the break, Neha used a snap to score a go-behind before adding a turn. Although Nette managed a reversal, Neha still carried a 6-2 lead at the break. Nette completed a single-leg takedown in the second period to cut the lead to 6-4, but Neha closed out the bout without giving her another opening, upgrading the silver medal she won in Budapest last year to gold.

Reese LARRAMENDY (USA) defeated compatriot Jennifer PAGE ROGERS (USA), 7-1, in the 65kg final. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Amirreza Aliasgari)

The United States secured the 65kg gold medal after an all-American final. Unheralded Reese LARRAMENDY (USA) upset her senior teammate Jennifer PAGE ROGERS (USA), 7-1, to claim her first international medal.

The two were involved in an early scramble, with Larramendy emerging on top for the opening takedown and a 2-0 lead. Page was then put on the activity clock but failed to score, giving Larramendy a 3-0 advantage at the break.

Page opened the second period with a stepout to cut the deficit to 3-1 and continued to pressure Larramendy toward the zone. During one exchange, Page appeared to force Larramendy out of bounds, but the action was allowed to continue as the officials did not award a stepout. Larramendy capitalized by scoring a takedown to extend her lead to 5-1.

Larramendy sealed the victory when Page attacked the legs but was countered for two points, completing a 7-1 victory and earning the first international medal of her career.

Ana GODINEZ (CAN) pulled off a thrilling 7-6 victory over Grace BULLEN (NOR). (Photo: United World Wrestling / Amirreza Aliasgari)

Godinez Stuns Bullen

Ana GODINEZ (CAN) claimed the 62kg gold medal after MANSI (IND) was forced to withdraw through injury in the final. However, her toughest test came much earlier against European champion Grace BULLEN (NOR), who had defeated Godinez, 11-0, in the bronze medal bout at the Paris Olympics.

Trailing 6-4, Bullen scored a takedown and secured the fall but Godinez challenged the call. While the takedown was upheld, the fall was overturned after it was evident that Bullen had locked her hands behind Godinez's head.

Bullen held a 6-6 criteria advantage and needed only to protect it for the final 12 seconds. Godinez, however, scored a late stepout to secure a 7-6 victory and advance to the semifinals, where she defeated Veranika IVANOVA (BLR), 13-7.

Moustafa ALAMELDIN (EGY) made a successful run at 77kg and won the gold medal. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Amirreza Aliasgari)

Alameldin Shines at 77kg

The two Greco-Roman finals on Friday both ended in 1-1 criteria victories, with Dinislam BAMMATOV (RUS) winning at 67kg and Moustafa ALAMELDIN (EGY) taking the 77kg title.

In Greco-Roman, when a wrestler is called passive, his opponent receives one point and a par terre opportunity. If both wrestlers score only from passivity and the bout ends 1-1, the wrestler who scored first wins on criteria.

Alameldin, the 2024 U20 world champion at 67kg, completed a successful move up to 77kg. He claimed a 1-1 criteria victory over former U17 world champion Alexandru SOLOVEI (MDA) in the final. But before the final, Alameldin completed a stunning 8-0 victory over Levente LEVAI (HUN) in the quarterfinals and then held off Sergei KUTUZOV (RUS), 2-2, in the semifinals.

At 67kg, Bammatov faced U23 world champion Mohamed ABDELREHIM (EGY) in the final and earned the first passivity point. Abdelrehim received par terre in the second period, but neither wrestler scored from the position, allowing Bammatov to retain the criteria advantage and secure the title.

RESULTS

Women's Wrestling

59kg
GOLD: NEHA (IND) df. Abigail NETTE (USA), 6-4

BRONZE: Othelie HOEIE (NOR) df. Altyn SHAGAYEVA (KAZ), 3-3
BRONZE: Mariia VYNNYK (UKR) df. Alexis JANIAK (USA), 8-1

62kg
GOLD: Ana GODINEZ (CAN) df. MANSI (IND), via inj. def.

BRONZE: SAVITA (IND) df. Irina KUZNETSOVA (KAZ), 14-5
BRONZE: Grace BULLEN (NOR) df. Veranika IVANOVA (BLR), 6-4

65kg
GOLD: Reese LARRAMENDY (USA) df. Jennifer PAGE ROGERS (USA), 7-1

BRONZE: Gulnura TASHTANBEKOVA (KGZ) df. Virginia JIMENEZ (CHI), 8-2
BRONZE: Birgul SOLTANOVA (AZE) df. Miki ROWBOTTOM (CAN), via fall (10-0)

68kg
GOLD: Jia LONG (CHN) df. Meerim ZHUMANAZAROVA (KGZ), 4-0

BRONZE: Noémi SZABADOS (HUN) df. Alina SHEVCHENKO (RUS), 5-3
BRONZE: Zelu LI (CHN) df. Nesrin BAS (TUR), 5-4

Greco-Roman

67kg
GOLD: Dinislam BAMMATOV (RUS) df. Mohamed ABDELREHIM (EGY), 1*-1

BRONZE: Ruslan BICHURIN (RUS) df. Tsuchika SHIMOYAMADAA (AUS), 13-6
BRONZE: Din KOSHKAR (KAZ) df. Slavik GALSTYAN (ARM), via inj. def.

77kg
GOLD: Moustafa ALAMELDIN (EGY) df. Alexandru SOLOVEI (MDA), 1*-1

BRONZE: Danil GRIGOREV (RUS) df. Aleksa ILIC (SRB), 1*-1
BRONZE: Sergei KUTUZOV (RUS) df. Levente LEVAI (HUN), 6-2