SOFIA, Bulgaria – Nihat Zahid MAMMADLI (AZE) advanced to the Cadet World finals for the second time in his young career and will wrestle for a gold medal at 55 kg on Saturday.
Mammadli, who is a 2017 Cadet World silver medalist, knocked off returning World champion Abror ATABAEV (UZB) with a dominant 7-0 victory.
A 2019 European Youth Olympic Festival bronze medalist, Mammadli will face Pravin Pandurang PATIL (IND), who won Cadet Asian bronze earlier this summer.
Also from Azerbaijan, Ziya BABASHOV (AZE) cruised to the finals at his first World Championships, outwrestling 2018 U15 Asian silver medalist Rupin RUPIN (IND) in the 48 kg semifinals.
For gold, Babashov will challenge 2018 Youth Olympic Games champion Amirreza Mohammadreza DEHBOZORGI (IRI), who scored an 8-0 tech fall in his semis match over Yerbol KAMALIYEV (KAZ).
Iran also put a second wrestler in the finals as 2019 Cadet Asian bronze winner Shahrokh Abouzar MIKAEILI (IRI) moved onto the gold match at 110 kg.
Waiting for him in the finals is Razmik KURDYAN (ARM), who was fifth at the Cadet European Championships. He defeated European champion Mate GOKADZE (GEO) to earn a chance at gold.
At 65 kg, Asian bronze medalist Sheroz OCHILOV (TJK) upset Asian champion Hojat REZAEI (IRI) in the semifinals, 3-1.
In Saturday’s final, Ochilov will go head-to-head with 2019 Cadet European bronze medalist Dzmitry BONKA (BLR).
For the title at 80 kg, 2018 Balkan champion Gabriel LUPASCO (MDA) will battle Mykyta ALIEKSIEIEV (UKR).
Lupasco shutout Asian champion Maskat SAILAU (KAZ) in the semis, while Alieksieiev took out Kamran ARGHASH (IRI).
The finals will take place on Saturday at 6 p.m. local time (11 a.m. ET) live on unitedworldwrestling.org.
Finals matchups
48 kg: Amirreza Mohammadreza DEHBOZORGI (IRI) vs. Ziya BABASHOV (AZE)
55 kg: Pravin Pandurang PATIL (IND) vs. Nihat Zahid MAMMADLI (AZE)
65 kg: Sheroz OCHILOV (TJK) vs. Dzmitry BONKA (BLR)
80 kg: Gabriel LUPASCO (MDA) vs. Mykyta ALIEKSIEIEV (UKR)
110 kg: Razmik KURDYAN (ARM) vs. Shahrokh Abouzar MIKAEILI (IRI)
