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Zagreb Open: 'Calm' Khaslakhanau creates storm, Hedayati wins 130kg

Monday, January 15, 2024 - 01:54 By Vinay Siwach

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ZAGREB, Croatia (January 14) -- Abubakar KHASLAKHANAU (AIN) had not wrestled Arvi SAVOLAINEN (FIN) before. But he had watched his World Championships loss in the pre-quarterfinals. A headlock throw saw Savolainen get pinned in Belgrade last year and end his chances of winning a senior World Championships medal and a Paris Olympic quota.

So when the two met in the Zagreb Open Ranking Series final at 97kg on Saturday, Khaslakhanau did not waste any time and hit a headlock for four. While he did not get the pin, he managed to finish the final in a minute and six seconds and claim the gold medal as the tournament came to a close with six Greco-Roman weight classes.

Khaslakhanau, who finished fifth at the World Championships after losing to Gabriel ROSILLO (CUB) and Mohammadhadi SARAVI (IRI) in the bronze medal bout, showed why he could be a big medal threat in Paris as he calmly went about business and won five bouts in some fashion.

Beginning with a 13-5 win over Giorgi KATSANASHVILI (GEO), Khaslakhanau scored an 8-1 win over Nikoloz KAKHELASHVILI (ITA). He defeated Aleksandar STJEPANETIC (SWE) 8-0 in the quarterfinals and faced Murad AHMADIYEV (AZE) in the semifinal which turned out to be a close one.

Ahmadiyev was quick to take an aggressive approach in the bout but Khaslakhanau kept himself calm and got the first par terre advantage. He scored a turn to lead 3-0 against Ahmadiyev who got par terre advantage in the second period but failed to score. Khaslakhanau decided to keep the 3-1 lead and thwarted every Ahmadiyev attack to win. A stepout in the final second of the bout made it 4-1.

In the final, Savolainen was just getting started when Khaslakhanau hit a stunning headlock and held the Finland wrestler on his back. Savolainen had Khaslakhanau on his back to earn two points but he could not do that for long. Khaslakhanau once again went on top, giving him two more points. Savolainen was cautioned for blocking and asked to return in par terre trailing 8-2.

Khaslakhanau lifted Savolainen for a big throw but managed only a two-point throw which ended the bout. Finland challenged that it was only a stepout which was the case but the replays showed Savolainen blocking Khalakhanau again. A second caution and two points were awarded against him, ending the bout 11-2.

Abubakar KHASLAKHANAU (AIN)Abubakar KHASLAKHANAU (AIN) won the 97kg gold medal in Zagreb. (Photo: UWW / Kadir Caliskan)

"Today’s matches went perfect," Khaslakhanau said. "All the five matches were tough apart from the final. I had to prepare for each one in the same way. That’s why I am satisfied with my performance, but it’s not a limit, I should still work more and achieve more."

Despite perfect bouts, the U20 world champion maintained an expressionless face and did not give away much.

"I am a very disciplined wrestler thanks to my coach Kiril FOMENKO," he said. "Being respectful to my opponents doesn’t let me show any emotions. That’s why I am so reserved when I lose and when I win."

Khaslakhanau will now head to the European Championships but a clash with U23 world champion Pavel HLINCHUK (AIN) did not take place after the latter lost his quarterfinal.

"We wrestle together at the training, we also wrestled each other two times at competitions, I lost both times," he said.

Just 19 years old, Khaslakhanau has added two world titles to his name and qualified for the Paris Olympics. But it was only a piece of luck that he ended up being a wrestler.

"I started wrestling when I was 10 years old," he said. "A coach came to school to choose the kids and he invited me and I decided to give it a try. I liked it. I train in the wrestling club “Legend”. I want to say that it’s the best club at least in our country, and soon will be the best one in the world."

Savolainen was satisfied with his wrestling till the final and said that he knows his weakness and will continue to work on it.

"I was quite happy until the evening. In the final, it was the same mistake as the World Championships where I lost because of the same head throw," he said. "It could have been my time on the mat in the second period but we never got there in the final."

Fardin HEDAYATI (IRI)Fardin HEDAYATI (IRI) defeated Oscar PINO (CUB) 8-2 in the 130kg quarterfinals. (Photo: UWW / Kostadin Andonov)

Another U20 world champion had a great day in office as Fardin HEDAYATI (IRI) won the gold medal at 130kg after two big wins. His first big test came against world bronze medalist Oscar PINO (CUB) and he passed that with flying colors, winning 8-2.

In the final, Hedayati faced Asian silver medalist Lingzhe MENG (CHN). After giving up the first passivity, Hedayati scored two stepouts before getting a par terre advantage in the second period to win 3-1.

The victory makes Hedayati the real successor behind world champion Amin MIRZAZADEH (IRI) at 130kg. Only time will tell when Hedayati will take over the reins from Mirzazadeh who is likely to go to Paris and will have to wrestle Hedayati.

At 60kg, Victor CIOBANU (MDA) pulled out injured and Sadyk LALAEV (AIN) got the gold medal. That was after both Lalaev and Ciobanu had a dominant morning session. Ciobanu defeated Edmond NAZARYAN (BUL) 3-3 in an action-packed semifinal.

Nazaryan led 1-1 on criteria after par terre advantage. At one point, he lifted Ciobanu for a suplex but the Moldovan used his hands to avoid landing in danger position, saving him from giving up any points. Moldova challenged the call asking for two points as Ciobanu landed on top of Nazaryan but it was deemed clean with no points to any wrestler.

Ciobanu, trailing on criteria, got Nazaryan in a lock and as he tried to score a takedown, Nazaryan got the exposure and then Ciobanu scored a reversal. The referees ruled it two points only for Ciobanu. Bulgaria challenged the call and the judge ruled it two points each to both wrestlers with Ciobanu scoring later which gave him a 3-3 criteria and the win.

Lalaev defeated two Individual Neutral Athletes before beating Ihor KUROCHKIN (UKR) 9-0 in the semifinal.

Ulvi GANIZADE (AZE)Ulvi GANIZADE (AZE) won the 72kg gold medal in Zagreb. (Photo: UWW / Kadir Caliskan)

In the two non-Olympic weight classes of 72kg and 82kg, Ulvi GANIZADE (AZE) and Erik SZILVASSY (HUN) were the respective gold medalists.

Ganizade took on Levente LEVAI (HUN) and began with a big front headlock throw for four, got another point for par terre and got two more when Levai tried to throw him but landed on his own back. No more points were awarded and Ganizade won 7-0.

In the 82kg final Ezilvassy took on U20 world champion Alperen BERBER (TUR) and never gave the youngster a chance to trouble him. Ezilvassy scored a turn from par terre and added a takedown in the second period to rule out any passivity warning against him. He won 5-0.

Adem UZUN (TUR) and Maksim STUPAKEVICH (AIN) were the only two wrestlers entered in 55kg and Uzun was too good for Stupakevich, winning the gold medal 10-2.

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RESULTS

55kg
GOLD: Adem UZUN (TUR) df. Maksim STUPAKEVICH (AIN), 10-2

60kg
GOLD: Sadyk LALAEV (AIN) df. Victor CIOBANU (MDA), via inj. def.

BRONZE: Anvar ALLAKHIAROV (AIN) df. Ihor KUROCHKIN (UKR), 9-0
BRONZE: Edmond NAZARYAN (BUL) df. Hafizov ILDAR (USA), 5-1

72kg
GOLD: Ulvi GANIZADE (AZE) df. Levente LEVAI (HUN), 7-0

BRONZE: Dominik ETLINGER (CRO) df. Calebe CORREA (BRA), 9-0
BRONZE: Muhammed GOCMEN (TUR) df. Iulian LUNGU (ROU), 9-0

82kg
GOLD: Erik SZILVASSY (HUN) df. Alperen BERBER (TUR), 5-0

BRONZE: Deni NAKAEV (GER) df. Mahmoud SEBIE (USA), 6-2 
BRONZE: Mats AHLGREN (SWE) df. Tornike DZAMASHVILI (GEO), 6-3

97kg
GOLD: Abubakar KHASLAKHANAU (AIN) df. Arvi SAVOLAINEN (FIN), 11-2

BRONZE: Pavel HLINCHUK (AIN) df. Alex SZOKE (HUN), via inj. def.
BRONZE: Aleksandar STJEPANETIC (SWE) df. Murad AHMADIYEV (AZE), 3-2

130kg
GOLD: Fardin HEDAYATI (IRI) df. Lingzhe MENG (CHN), 3-1

BRONZE: Dariusz VITEK (HUN) df. Beka KANDELAKI (AZE), 7-4
BRONZE: Mantas KNYSTAUTAS (LTU) df. Laszlo DARABOS (HUN), via inj. def.

2026 Muhamet Malo

Muhamet Malo 2026 Day 3 Results: Yaneva wins 68kg; Ostaev Best in GR 87kg

Friday, February 27, 2026 - 18:59 By Vinay Siwach

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TIRANA, Albania (February 27) -- World silver medalist Yuliana YANEVA (BUL) opened her 2026 season with a gold medal at the Muhamet Malo Ranking Series in Tirana. Just two months before the European Championships, Yaneva's gold medal makes her the favorite to win gold.

In a field that had Olympic silver medalist Meerim ZHUMANAZAROVA (KGZ), U23 world champion Nesrin BAS (TUR) and European medalist Kateryna ZELENYKH (ROU), Yaneva displayed tactical wrestling on her way to pick gold, blanking Zhumanazarova in the final.

While the final lacked action, it was full of some top-level defense with Yaneva being quick to throw her legs back whenever she was attack, circling to get in position and even remained active in both periods to be not put on the activity clock.

Zhumanazarova, however, was put on the clock twice and she failed to score both times, giving Yaneva a 2-0 lead, which was also the winning score.

Macey KILTY (USA)Macey KILTY (USA) defeated Anastasiia SIDELNIKOVA (UWW) in the 62kg final. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kostadin Andonov)

At the other Olympic weight class in action on Friday, world bronze medalist Macey KILTY (USA) added a gold medal to her season opening bronze at the Zagreb Open three weeks ago.

Kilty, who has moved down to 62kg from 65kg this season, secured three victory via technical superiorities and one was a 9-0 blanking in the semifinals.

The 24-year-old opened the day with a 10-0 win over Amina CAPEZAN (ROU) and won next bout against Ilona PROKOPEVNIUK (UKR) with the same score. Facing Zagreb Open silver medalist Johanna LINDBORG (SWE) in the semifinal, Kilty brought her counter-attacking game and won 9-0.

Anastasiia SIDELNIKOVA (UWW) was moving up to 62kg from 59kg and she felt the difference against Kilty in the final as the American was little too strong for Sidelnikova. Despite giving up two points in an exchange, Kilty controlled the final to win 12-2.

Kilty and Sidelnikova had met in the opening round at the Zagreb Open as well and the former had won via fall.

Othelie HOEIE (NOR)Othelie HOEIE (NOR) scores the match-winning takedown against Svetlana LIPATOVA (UWW). (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kostadin Andonov)

At 59kg, Othelie HOEIE (NOR) won her first international medal in over two years by Svetlana LIPATOVA (UWW), 4-2, in the final.

In 2023, Hoeie had one of her best season, winning bronze at the World and European Championships. But since, she has failed to win a medal at six events over the past two years.

The drought finally ended and that too with a gold as Hoeie won three low scoring but tactical bouts in Tirana. She began with a 4-0 victory over Dilan TAN (TUR) before stopping Abigail NETTE (USA), 2-0, in the semifinals.

In the final against Svetlana LIPATOVA (UWW), Hoeie was about to be called passive when her forward pressure took Lipatova towards the edge and Hoeie scored a takedown to open the scoring and lead 2-0.

Lipatova took a 2-2 criteria lead early in the second period with a powerful takedown that Hoeie failed to defend. As the clock ticked, Hoeie attempted various attacks but with no success.

But in the final minute, Lipatova defending a takedown by pressuring Hoeie's on the mat but the Norway wrestler managed snuggle out of that and score a clear takedown to lead 4-2.

She defended that lead for the final 44 seconds to win a Ranking Series gold, the first of her career.

Alina KASABIEVA (UWW)Alina KASABIEVA (UWW) battles it out against Kriszta INCZE (ROU) in the 65kg final. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Amirreza Aliasgari)

World silver medalist Alina KASABIEVA (UWW) kept it later to beat Kriszta INCZE (ROU). 4-2, for the gold medal.

Kasabieva was put on the activity clock in both periods and she failed to score any points in those, giving Incze a 2-0 lead. But as the second period expired, Kasabieva scored a takedown to make it 2-2 but led on criteria, thanks points via bigger technique.

Incze tried a last-ditch attempt in the final 10 seconds but an alert Kasabieva stepped backwards before scoring the match sealing takedown.

Alan OSTAEV (UWW)Alan OSTAEV (UWW) prepares to throw Lasha GOBADZE (GEO) during the 87kg final. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Amirreza Aliasgari)

Ostaev, Stepanov Win Greco Golds

Former world champion Lasha GOBADZE (GEO) was in unreal form today looked like he is going to run away with the 87kg gold medal. He almost did as well.

In the final against Alan OSTAEV (UWW), Gobadze hit a reverse lift for four points to lead 5-3. But Ostaev managed to score a front headlock roll to cut the lead to 5-3.

It all changed in the second period when Ostaev exposed Gobadze's weak conditioning. He scored points using a gut-wrench from par terre and won the gold medal 12-5.

World champion Aleksandr KOMAROV (SRB) was also entered in the weight class but Milad ALIRZAEV (UWW) stunned him 1-1 in the opening bout. Alirzaev lost his second bout to Gobadze, 6-6, before returning to win the bronze medal.

Sergei STEPANOV (UWW) kept it a simpler against Evgenii BAIDUSOV (UWW), pulling off a 4-0 victory in the 77kg final.

He began with a stepout against Baidusov which was doubled up as Baidusov was penalized for fleeing, giving a 2-0 lead to Stepanov. Then came the point for first par terre position. Though Stepanov failed to score any points, he was up 3-0 at the break.

In a rare occasion, Stepanov was awarded the second par terre position as well in the second. He again failed to score but held a 4-0 lead which he defended until the clock expired.

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RESULTS

Women's Wrestling

59kg
GOLD: Othelie HOEIE (NOR) df. Svetlana LIPATOVA (UWW), 4-2

BRONZE: Mariia VYNNYK (UKR) df. Bediha GUN (TUR), 4-0
BRONZE: Abigail NETTE (USA) df. Dilan TAN (TUR), 3-1

62kg
GOLD: Macey KILTY (USA) df. Anastasiia SIDELNIKOVA (UWW), 12-2

BRONZE: SAVITA (IND) df. Adaugo NWACHUKWU (USA), 7-5
BRONZE: Johanna LINDBORG (SWE) df. Ilona PROKOPEVNIUK (UKR). 7-4

65kg
GOLD: Alina KASABIEVA (UWW) df. Kriszta INCZE (ROU). 4-2

BRONZE: Emma BRUNTIL (USA) df. Aizhan SUIDUOVA (KAZ), 10-0
BRONZE: Gulnura TASHTANBEKOVA (KGZ) df. Apeksha PATIL (IND), 4-3

68kg
GOLD: Yuliana YANEVA (BUL) df. Meerim ZHUMANAZAROVA (KGZ), 2-0

BRONZE: Tindra SJOEBERG (SWE) df. KIRTI (IND), 8-4
BRONZE: Nesrin BAS (TUR) df. Solin PIEARCY (USA), 10-0

Greco-Roman

77kg
GOLD: Sergei STEPANOV (UWW) df. Evgenii BAIDUSOV (UWW), 4-0

BRONZE: Amir ABDI (IRI) df. Kaharman KISSYMETOV (KAZ), 4-3
BRONZE: Robert FRITSCH (HUN) df. Alireza ABDEVALI (IRI), 5-3

87kg
GOLD: Alan OSTAEV (UWW) df. Lasha GOBADZE (GEO), 12-5

BRONZE: Istvan TAKACS (HUN) df. Asan ZHANYSHOV (KGZ), 8-4
BRONZE: Milad ALIRZAEV (UWW) df. Islam ALIEV (UWW), 9-0

Morning Session Highlights

15:35: Greco 87kg semifinals - Two high scoring semifinals as Lasha GOBADZE (GEO) slams Islam ALIEV (UWW) twice using reverse lift to win 9-0 while Alan OSTAEV (UWW) scores takedowns at will against Istvan TAKACS (HUN) to beat him 8-0

15:25: Greco 77kg semifinals - Two Iranians fall in the semifinals at 77kg. Sergei STEPANOV (UWW) beats Amir ABDI (IRI), 3-2, after defending well in the second period. He scored a turn in the first period from par terre to take a 3-0 lead. When asked to go down on par terre in the second period, he gives up only a points to keep the 3-2 lead. He will take on Evgenii BAIDUSOV (UWW) for the gold medal after the UWW wrestler denied Alireza ABDEVALI (IRI), 6-1.

15:15: 68kg semifinals - In what was the match of the day, Olympic silver medalist Meerim ZHUMANAZAROVA (KGZ) held Nesrin BAS (TUR) down with all her might to win the semifinals at 68kg. Zhumanazarova led 3-0 but Bas was given a point for Zhumunazarova's play and then the Kyrgyzstan wrestler was failed to score during the activity clock that made the score 3-2. Bas got on a single leg attack during the last 15 seconds but was unable to expose Zhumanazarova despite constant pressure. A lost challenge from Bas made the score 4-2 for Zhumanazarova.

For the gold medal, Zhumanazarova will face world silver medalist Yuliana YANEVA (BUL). A slow start to the semifinal between Yuliana YANEVA (BUL) and Tindra SJOEBERG (SWE) with the former getting called passive and Sjoeberg leading 1-0 at the break. But Yaneva scores a takedown and a stepout in the second period to lead 3-1. Sjoeberg managed to get on an attack was about to takedown to Yaneva but the Bulgarian disturbed the Sweden wrestler and scored a lift to get two points and gave up one for the reversal to complete a 5-2 win.

15:00: 65kg semifinals - Apeksha PATIL (IND) gave an early scare to Alina KASABIEVA (UWW) but the latter manages to stand firm despite constant attacks from Patil. She counters those attacks and score five takedowns in her 12-2 win. She will face Kriszta INCZE (ROU) for the gold medal after the Romanian blanked Aizhan SUIDUOVA (KAZ), 10-0.

14:50: 62kg semifinals - Anastasiia SIDELNIKOVA (UWW) scores a stepout with four seconds remaining to win the semifinal against Adaugo NWACHUKWU (USA). Nwachukwu led 3-2 but pressure from Sidelnikova forces the American out of the zone which gives Sidelnikova a 3-3 criteria lead. The U.S. challenges the call but loses to make it 4-3 with four seconds left. Nwachukwu doesn't give up and gets body lock and throws Sidelnikolva in time but the UWW wrestler does not land in danger, hence no points. Sidelnikova will face Macey KILTY (USA) after she denied Johanna LINDBORG (SWE), 9-0, in the first semifinals. She scored four takedown and a stepout. Lindborg got on her attacks multiple times but failed to finish them.

14:40: 59kg semifinals - Former world bronze medalist Othelie HOEIE (NOR) picks up a 2-0 win over Abigail NETTE (USA). Both points coming from activity clock points. She will face Svetlana LIPATOVA (UWW) for the gold medal after Lipatova also managed a 2-0 win against Bediha GUN (TUR), points for a takedown in the first period.

Semifinals will begin at 14:00 hours local time

13:40: Asan ZHANYSHOV (KGZ), world bronze medalist, got the par terre in first period but failed to score any points from there. On the other hand, Alan OSTAEV (UWW) scored two takedowns in his 6-1 victory over Zhanyshov to advance to the semifinals at 87kg.

13:20: Istvan TAKACS (HUN) manages to defend his par terre position against Shamil OZHAEV (KAZ) to defeat the Kazakhstan wrestler 4-1 and advance to the semifinals at 87kg.

13:00: World silver medalist Yulia YANEVA (BUL) with a controlled 5-1 victory over KIRTI (IND) while Meerim ZHUMANAZAROVA (KGZ) beats Solin PIEARCY (USA), 10-0, to advance to the semifinals at 68kg

12:50: Not to be for Grace BULLEN (NOR) in an all Nordic battle against Johanna LINDBORG (SWE) at 62kg. Lindborg was controlling Bullen in a pin position but failed to get it. However, her 8-2 lead was enough to get the victory over Bullen

12:45: World bronze medalist Macey KILTY (USA) with a leg lace to build a 9-0 lead over Ilona PROKOPEVNIUK (UKR) at 62kg. In the second period, Prokopevniuk with an aggressive move which forces the referees to caution her and award a point to Kilty, giving the American a 10-0 victory

12:30: Alina KASABIEVA (UWW), world silver medalist at 65kg, with a clean and controlled 6-0 victory over Gulnura TASHTANBEKOVA (KGZ) at 65kg. Moments later, Anastasiia SIDELNIKOVA (UWW) beats SAVITA (IND) at 62kg, 11-0.

12:20: Milad ALIRZAEV (UWW) got the par terre position in the second period over Lasha GOBADZE (GEO) with the score reading 6-2 in favor of the latter. But Alirzaev managed one turn to make it 6-4 with over a minute remaining. He needed three points for a victory. He scored a takedown to make it 6-6 but could not find one more point for the win. He drop the bout and with that world champion Aleksandr KOMAROV (SRB) will not get a repechage and return home without a medal.

12:00: World bronze medalist Asan ZHANYSHOV (KGZ) led 3-2 at the break against Gela BOLKVADZE (GEO) and then scored two more points in the second period to complete a 5-2 victory at 87kg.

11:40: Alireza Morad ABDEVALI (IRI) with a stepout in the second period to beat U23 world champion Alexandru GUTU (MDA), 3-2, at 77kg. Gutu scored a takedown in the first period to lead 2-0. But he gave up a stepout before being put in par terre which made the score 2-2. As Abdevali was not able to score, Gutu held the criteria for a bigger move. But Abdevali scored a stepout to break the tie and win.

11:25: A quick win for Olympic Meerim ZHUMANAZAROVA (KGZ) over Destiny ADEYELE (USA), finishing her first bout at 68kg, 11-0.

11:15: Grace BULLEN (NOR) was trailing 5-2 against MANSI (IND) with 10 seconds left but manages to bring down the Indian with an outside trip and a fall. While the fall was not confirmed before the clock expired, Bullen wins 6-5. Nothing else expected of Bullen

11:10: SAVITA (IND), a former U20 world champion, SAVITA (IND) with a fall over Lais NUNES (BRA) at 62kg. Savita overpowering Nunes there. But in the next match on Mat B, ANJLI (IND) gives up her lead and Adaugo NWACHUKWU (USA) beats her 14-7 at 62kg.

10:50: Alirzaev beats Komarov! World champion Aleksandr KOMAROV (SRB) is on the mat to face Milad ALIRZAEV (UWW) at 87kg. Alirzaev gets the first par terre advantage but fails to score any points. In the second period, Komarov gets the position but he also fails to score. Alirzaev then defends his 1-1 criteria lead to win.

10:30: The third day of the Ranking Series will see the Greco stars take the mat with 77kg and 87kg while Women's Wrestling continues in 59kg, 62kg, 65kg, and 68kg.