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

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

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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.

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.

#WrestleZagreb

Zagreb Open: Ciobanu beats Nazaryan, Hedayati top Pino

Sunday, January 14, 2024 - 09:32 By United World Wrestling Press

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ZAGREB, Croatia (January 14) -- The final day of the Zagreb Open will see six Greco-Roman weight classes with a top match at 60kg between Victor CIOBANU (MDA) and Edmond NAZARYAN (BUL) expected.

Catch all the action from the Zagreb Open free on UWW+. Use the promo code ZAGREB100

WATCH LIVE | LIVE MATCH ORDER

The finals for the evening session

55kg: Maksim STUPAKEVICH (AIN) vs. Adem UZUN (TUR)
60kg: Sadyk LALAEV (AIN) vs. Victor CIOBANU (MDA)
72kg: Levente LEVAI (HUN) vs. Ulvi GANIZADE (AZE)
82kg: Alperen BERBER (TUR) vs Erik SZILVASSY (HUN)
97kg: Arvi SAVOLAINEN (FIN) vs. Abubakar KHASLAKHANAU (AIN)
130kg: Fardin HEDAYATI (IRI) vs. Lingzhe MENG (CHN)

14:50: Arvi SAVOLAINEN (FIN) with a 6-0 shutout over Alex SZOKE (HUN) in the 97kg semifinal. Savolainen showing up in the Olympic year. He will face U20 world champion and world fifth placer Abubakar KHASLAKHANAU (AIN) in the final. Khaslakhanau defeated Murad AHMADIYEV (AZE) 4-1 in a very heated match.

14:40: Victor CIOBANU (MDA) and Edmond NAZARYAN (BUL) in the 60kg semifinal. Ciobani gets the par terre advantage and despite a few jumps, he doesn't score. Nazaryan gets the par terre in the second period but also fails to score. He got a bodylock and almost got the suplex but Ciobanu put his hands on the mat and then brought Nazaryan down. It was scored two for Nazaryan but a challenge from Moldova. No points to either wrestler as neither was in control. Nazaryan with a 1-1 criteria lead. Ciobanu pushes Nazaryan towards the zone to score but Nazaryan gets out of the hold and brings Ciobanu in exposure. However, the scramble continues and Ciobanu gets two as well. It was initially scored only two Ciobanu but Bulgaria challenged the call. It's two for Nazaryan and two for Ciobanu with the Moldovan getting the criteria 3-3. Nazaryan can't break the criteria and will win 3-3.

14:20: Alperen BERBER (TUR) and Deni NAKAEV (GER) in the 82kg semifinal. Berber gets the first advantage and he comes up with a body throw for four to lead 5-0 at the break. Nakaev gets the chance from par terre in the second period. No score and Berber will walk into the final with a 5-1 win.

14:10: Abubakar KHASLAKHANAU (AIN) continues his dominant run and is into the 97kg semifinal with an 8-0 win over Aleksandar STJEPANETIC (SWE). Pavel HLINCHUK (AIN) is finding it difficult on Mat A as Arvi SAVOLAINEN (FIN) scores a takedown to lead 3-0 and then two stepouts as Hlinchuk struggles to match the pace. Savolainen gets two points and Hlinchuk receives caution. Savolainen moves into the semifinals with a 7-0 win.

14:00: Edmond NAZARYAN (BUL) sets up a semifinal against Victor CIOBANU (MDA) at 60kg after a 9-0 win over Pridon ABULADZE (GEO). Nazaryan with a takedown and a suplex for four. A takedown to finish the bout.

13:40: Fardin HEDAYATI (IRI) with a statement win over Oscar PINO (CUB) at 130kg. Pino went in with a tapped thump and was in discomfort when he tried to turn Hedayati from par terre. Hedayati scored a stepout and a takedown just before the break to lead 3-2. He got the par terre advantage in the second period and Pino was cautioned for blocking, making it 6-2 for Hedayati. Cuba challenged the decision but lost which gave another point to Hedayati. Pino got a final chance when Hedayati was called passive. Pino gave it all to turn Hedayati but failed to finish it. A reversal made it 8-2 for Hedayati, the final score.

13:20: U20 world champion Alperen BERBER (TUR) cuts Mahmoud SEBIE's (USA) run with a 4-2 win at 82kg. Berber into the semifinals and he will face Deni NAKAEV (GER) who defeated Vasile COJOC (ROU) 10-5

13:15: Victor CIOBANU (MDA) books his spot in the 60kg semifinal with a 9-1 win over Ildar HAFIZOV (USA). He will get the winner of Edmond NAZARYAN (BUL) and Pridon ABULADZE (GEO)

13:05: Two Individual Neutral Athletes on course to face each other. U23 world champion Pavel HLINCHUK (AIN) gets two par terre advantages in the bout and wins 2-0 against Beytullah KAYISDAG (TUR). On Mat B, Abubakar KHASLAKHANAU (AIN) toys with Nikoloz KAKHELASHVILI (ITA) from par terre and wins 8-1.

12:50: Returning champion at 130kg Oscar PINO (CUB) with an 11-2 Oleksandr CHERNETSKYY (UKR) and he moves into the quarterfinals where he will face Fardin HEDAYITI (IRI)

12:30: Edmond NAZARYAN (BUL) rolls into the 60kg quarterfinals with an 8-0 win over SCARPELLO (GER). He will face Pridon ABULADZE (GEO) after the Georgian defeated world bronze medalist Liguo CAO (CHN) 4-2 

12:10: In the match of the day so far, U23 world champion Pavel HLINCHUK (AIN) beats Tamas LEVAI (HUN) 11-5 at 97kg. Levai got a 3-0 lead but Hlinchuk hit two four-pointers in the bout to rule out a Levai win.

11:40: Alex SZOKE (HUN) with a 3-1 victory over Murat LOKIAYEV (AZE) at 97kg. Szoke is trying to win a spot on the Hungarian national team for the European Championships and Olympic Qualifiers

11:20: Ulvi GANIZADE (AZE) begins with an 8-0 superiority win over Iulian LUNGU (ROU) at 72kg. That match is followed by U20 world champion Abubakar KHASLAKHANAU (AIN) taking on Giorgi KATSANASHVILI (GEO) at 97kg. Khaslakhanau fell behind 5-2 but turned it around in the second period with three correct throws and exposure to win 13-5

10:50: Fardin HEDAYATI (IRI) with a technical superiority win over Laszlo DARABOS (HUN) at 130kg. Hedayati has multiple age-group world titles but it is yet to be seen if he can challenge world champion Amin MIRZAZADEH (IRI).

10:40: That should settle for Azerbaijan's 130kg representative for European Olympic Qualifiers as Beka KANDELAKI (AZE) beats Sabah SHARIATI (AZE) 1-1 in the opening bout. Kandelaki got the passivity advantage in the second period to hold the criteria.

10:30: Nugzari TSURTSUMIA (GEO) move to 60kg from 55kg ends in a 12-3 loss against Denis MIHAI (ROU) who looked bigger and better than Tsurtsumia.

10:20: Victor CIOBANU (MDA) uses his big throws to win his opening round bout against Hassan ALHARTHI (KSA) 8-4. Ciobanu was stunned by that big move from Alharthi.

10:15: Anvar ALLAKHIAROV (AIN) has got a wake-up call early in the competition. He wrestled Nihat MAMMADLI (AZE) in the opening match and barely managed to eke out a 7-5 win at 60kg.

10:00: Greco-Roman weight classes on the final day of the tournament. Five will be in action in the morning as 55kg has only two wrestlers entered.