RIO DE JANEIRO (August 21) – London 2012 gold medalist Togrul ASGAROV (AZE) and bronze medal winner four years ago Khetag GAZYUMOV (AZE) both advanced to the gold medal finals Sunday, the last day of wrestling competition at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games.
Asgarov will meet 2014 world champion Soslan RAMONOV (RUS) in 66kg final at Carioca Arena 2 while Gazyumov challenges reigning world champion Kyle SNYDER (USA) in the tournament finale at 97kg – five hours before the start of the Closing Ceremony of the Rio 2016 Games.
Asgarov prevailed 7-4 in the 65kg semifinal with Frank CHAMIZO (ITA) with a late takedown out of bounds and then weathered a late flurry from the world champion to seal the victory.
On the other side of the bracket, Ramonov pulled away from world silver medalist Ikhtiyor NAVRUZOV (UZB) in the second period of a throwing, dumping free-for-all to nail down an 18-7 technical fall at 3:32.
Meanwhile, Gazyumov turned away former two-time world champion Reza YAZDANI (IRI), 2-1, in the round of 16 and then locked up a cross-ankle lock and turn on London 2012 silver medalist Valeri ANDRIITSEV (UKR) in the semifinals for a 10-0 technical fall at 3:55.
At the top of the bracket, world champion Kyle SNYDER (USA) roared back from an early 0-4 deficit against European Games silver medalist Elizbar ODIKADZE (GEO) for a 9-0 triumph going away.
In an earlier battle of world champions at 65kg, Chamizo scored with a hiplock to open the second period and made it stand for a 3-1 win over 2013 world champ Devid SAFARYAN (ARM) in the round of 16.
Also, Andriitsev flipped an 8-5 loss to Anzor BOLUTKAEV (RUS) at the European championships in March for his own 8-5 victory in the round of 16 at 97kg.
Freestyle 65kg (21 entries)
Gold Medal Final
Togrul ASGAROV (AZE) v Soslan RAMONOV (RUS)
Bronze Medal Finals
Winner RpA v Frank CHAMIZO (ITA)
Winner RpC v Ikhtiyor NAVRUZOV (UZB)
Semifinals
Togrul ASGAROV (AZE) df. Frank CHAMIZO (ITA), 7-4
Soslan RAMONOV (RUS) df. Ikhtiyor NAVRUZOV (UZB) by TF, 18-7, 3:32
Repechage
RpA – Andriy KVYATKOVSKY (UKR) v Frank MOLINARO (USA)
RpB – Haislan VERANES GARCIA (CAN) v Alejandro VALDES TOBIER (CUB)
RpC – Winner RpB v GANZORIG Mandakhnaran (MGL)
Freestyle 97kg (19 entries)
Gold Medal Final
Kyle SNYDER (USA) v Khetag GAZYUMOV (AZE)
Bronze Medal Finals
Winner RpA v Elizbar ODIKADZE (GEO)
Winner RpC v Valeri ANDRIITSEV (UKR)
Semifinals
Kyle SNYDER (USA) df. Elizbar ODIKADZE (GEO), 9-4
Khetag GAZYUMOV (AZE) df. Valeri ANDRIITSEV (UKR) by TF, 10-0, 3:55
Repechage
RpA – Javier CORTINA LACERRA (CUB) v Albert SARITOV (ROU)
RpB – Radoslaw BARAN (POL) v Reza YAZDANI (IRI)
RpC – Winner RpC v Magomed IBRAGIMOV (UZB)
