BUDAPEST, HUNGARY (September 17) – Veteran Khadzhimurat GATSALOV (RUS) won his fifth world title and national team newcomer Bekhan GOIGEREEV (RUS) romped to his first on the second day of men’s freestyle action at the Wrestling World Championships.
GATSALOV, 30, who won all four of his titles at 96kg, notched four wins by fall or technical fall at 120kg as he rolled to his first world championship crown since 2009.
GOIGEREEV, meanwhile, recorded five wins by technical fall and then capped his first world championships title by pinning European silver medalist Vladimir DUBOV (BUL) in the 60kg final.
The third gold medal awarded at Papp Lazslo Budapest Sports Arena on Wednesday went to 2011 world runner-up Ibragim ALDATOV (UKR), who captured his first world title since winning the 74kg crown in Guangzhou, China in 2006.
With the triumphs by GATSALOV and GOIGEREEV (RUS), Russia extended its lead in the men’s freestyle team rankings to seven points over Iran, 44-37, with only the 74kg category remaining to be contested on Wednesday, September 18.
ALDATOV gave Ukraine a complete set of championship medals – gold, silver and bronze for the championships.
Iran added a pair of bronze medals to its two gold medals won on Monday, while Cuba claimed a second silver, Turkey earned a second bronze, and India added a bronze to its silver the first evening.
Wrestling in men’s freestyle concludes Wednesday, September 18, with the 74kg as the curtain is raised on women’s freestyle with the two lightest weight categories – 48kg and 51kg.
60kg – World University Games champion Bekhan GOIGEREEV (RUS) found his groove in the second period of the championship final, breaking a 2-2 tie, and dumped Vladimir DUBOV (BUL) onto his back for a fall at 4:20.
In the bronze medal finals, Barjang BARJANG (IND) gave up the first takedown to Nyam-Ochir ENKHSAIKHAN (MGL) and fashioned a technical fall with leg attacks and counters, 9-2, as time expired.
BARJANG’s medal follows a silver medal at 55kg on Monday night by Amit KUMAR (IND).
Former Asia champion Masoud ESMAEILPOORJOUYBARI (IRI) capped his technical fall with a pair of force-outs for a 7-0 win at 2:37 over Artur ARAKELYAN (ARM).
84kg – Ibragim ALDATOV (UKR), the 2011 world silver medalist, neutralized the speed of Reineris SALAS PEREZ (CUB) to build a 5-1 lead over the first three minutes, then opened the second with a takedown and lift to the back for the technical fall, 8-1 only 19 seconds into the period.
ALDATOV’s triumph now gives him two world titles, two silver and a bronze in six trips to the world championsships.
In the bronze medal finals, Istvan VEREB (HUN) scored a takedown going out of bounds in the first period and held on for a 2-1 win against Beijing 2008 bronze medalist Murad GAIDAROV (BLR).
VEREB, whose previous best in the world championships was a 10th in 2009,
assured the host country it would have at least one medal from the men’s freestyle events.
London 2012 bronze medalist Ehsan LASHGARI (IRI) worked methodically against surprising Talmuraz FRIEV NASKIDAEVA (ESP) for a 6-4 win and Iran’s fourth medal of the championships.
With his fifth place, FRIEV NASKIDAEVA, formerly a member of the Russian national team, gave Spain its best showing ever in men’s freestyle at the world championships. Arturo SANTORUM (ESP) earned an eighth place at heavyweight in Kiev in 1983.
120kg – Khadzhimourat GATSALOV (RUS) threw European runner-up Alen ZASEEV (UKR) for three points with a judo-style inner-thigh reap (uchimata), then dumped ZASEEV to his back again from a single-leg attack for three more – and the technical fall.
The Ukraine challenged the ruling, but the officiating crew confirmed the original decision, making it a 7-0 win for GATSALOV at 1:30 of the final.
In the bronze medal finals, junior world champion GENO PETRIASHVILI (GEO) scored with four different leg attacks and overwhelmed former Asia bronze medalist DENG Zhiwei (CHN) for the technical fall, 10-3 at 4:12.
European champion Taha AKGUL (TUR) received a penalty point in the first period and scored with a textbook single-leg in the second for a 3-0 victory over Tervel DLAGNEV (USA).
In the seminfinals, PETRIASHVILI scored the opening takedown but GATSALOV stepped over the young Georgian, rolled him to his back and pressed for the fall only 49 seconds into the bout.
In the round of 16, ZASEEV stunned AKGUL (TUR) with a go-behind and short back-arching throw to cap an 8-0 technical fall at 2:12.
Schedule for the Wrestling World Championships
September 18, Wednesday
1 p.m. – 6 p.m. Elimination rounds and repechage: FS 74kg, FW 48kg, 51kg
7 p.m. – 9 p.m. Finals and awards ceremonies: FS 74kg, FW 48kg, 51kg
September 19, Thursday
1 p.m. – 6 p.m. Elimination rounds and repechage: FW 55kg, 59kg, 63kg
7 p.m. – 9 p.m. Finals and awards ceremonies: FW 55kg, 59kg, 63kg
September 20, Friday
1 p.m. – 6 p.m. Elimination rounds and repechage: FW 67kg, 72kg, GR 55kg
7 p.m. – 9 p.m. Finals and awards ceremonies: FW 67kg, 72kg, GR 55kg
September 21, Saturday
1 p.m. – 6 p.m. Elimination rounds and repechage: GR 60kg, 84kg, 96kg
7 p.m. – 9 p.m. Finals and awards ceremonies: GR 60kg, 84kg, 96kg
September 22, Sunday
1 p.m. – 6 p.m. Elimination rounds and repechage: GR 66kg, 74kg, 120kg
7 p.m. – 9 p.m. Finals and awards ceremonies: GR 66kg, 74kg, 120kg
> Click here to see complete results
