Russia, Armenia Open U20 World Championships with Two Finalists

BRATISLAVA, Slovakia (August 16) -- Two pins and two technical superiority wins is all defending champion Ali ILIASOV (RUS) needed to reach the 130kg final at the U20 World Championships in Bratislava on Sunday.

Iliasov began the day with a fall over Cemal BAKIR (TUR) in what was a rematch of last year's final. He then posted two 9-0 wins to earn a place in the semifinal against Ivan YANKOVSKYI (UKR), a former U17 world champion and silver to Iliasov at the U20 European Championships in July.

In Skopje, Iliasov won 9-0 but in Bratislava, he pinned Yankovskyi after the Ukrainian attempted a throw out of nowhere. Iliasov landed on top of Yankovskyi and then controlled him for fall.

Trying to stop Iliasov from winning a second straight gold on Monday will be Kompany LASZLO (HUN) who handed Essam HUSSEIN (EGY) a 5-1 loss in the other semifinals. Laszlo scored two turns from par terre to complete his win.

Laszlo was also at the U20 European Championships and finished with a bronze medal after dropping the semifinal to 3-1 against Iliasov, his only match in which he failed to win via fall or technical superiority.

Salim KAZMAKHOV (RUS) scored three victories to reach the 63kg final. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kostadin Andonov)

Russia has another chance to win gold as Salim KAZMAKHOV (RUS) completed a 4-1 win against Ali GHARIBI (IRI) in the semifinals. Kazmakhov scored a turn from par terre in the second period to lead 3-1 before getting a point for lost challenge from Iran.

To win the gold medal, he will take on Kuvonchbek ISMOILOV (UZB) who denied Clisman CARRACEDO (ECU), 3-2, in the other semifinal.

Samvel TERTERYAN (ARM) reached the 77kg final after outscoring his opponents 26-0 in four bouts. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kostadin Andonov)

Samvel TERTERYAN (ARM) and Javidan NAHMATOV (AZE) set up a rematch of the U20 European Championships final after dominating their semifinals. Terteryan, the U20 champion, defeated Giorgi GOGELASHVILI (GEO), 6-0, and looked in complete control throughout the day.

After failing to score from par terre in the first period, Terteryan got his first takedown for two points when Gogelashvili fell after losing his balance. He was also awarded a point after caution against the Georgian and the bout restarted in par terre. A correct throw added two more points to Terteryan's score for thewin.

Nahmatov needed a counter four-point action to claim the victory against Amir SAEIDI (IRI) when he was down 1-1 on criteria. Saeidi was looking for a duck under to control Nahmatov but the Azerbaijan wrestler stepped over and threw the Iranian for four points.

Saeidi was docked two points for a caution late in the bout which gave Nahmatov a 7-1 victory and a final against Terteryan with the world title on line.

Taizo YOSHIDA (JPN) is looking to upgrade his bronze medal to gold this year. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kostadin Andonov)

Senior world bronze medalist Taizo YOSHIDA (JPN) celebrated by putting a crown on his head after beating Gabriel STAN (ROU) in the 87kg as if he is confident of winning the gold on Monday. He reached the semifinal after taking out defending champion Luca KOCHALIDZE (GEO).

In the semifinals, Yoshida scored four stepouts before score two different takedowns to win 8-0 and enter the gold-medal bout in which he will take on Iurik PETROSIAN (ARM) who defeated Paul MAIER (AUT), 8-1. Petrosian used a big four-pointer in the second period to take a decisive lead.

RESULTS

63kg
SF 1: Salim KAZMAKHOV (RUS) df. Ali GHARIBI (IRI), 4-1
SF 2: Kuvonchbek ISMOILOV (UZB) df. Clisman CARRACEDO (ECU), 3-2

77kg
SF 1: Samvel TERTERYAN (ARM) df. Giorgi GOGELASHVILI (GEO), 6-0
SF 2: Javidan NAHMATOV (AZE) df. Amir SAEIDI NAVA (IRI), 7-1

87kg
SF 1: Taizo YOSHIDA (JPN) df. Gabriel STAN (ROU), 8-0
SF 2: Iurik PETROSIAN (ARM) df. Paul MAIER (AUT), 8-1

130kg
SF 1: Koppany LASZLO (HUN) df. Essam HUSSEIN (EGY), 5-1
SF 2: Ali ILIASOV (RUS) df. Ivan YANKOVSKYI (UKR), via fall