TRNAVA, Slovakia (September 18) - Reigning junior world champions Kerem KAMAL (TUR), Amin KAVIYANINEJAD (IRI), and Aleksandr KOMAROV (RUS) all moved into Tuesday night’s Trnava Greco-Roman semifinals.
A noticeably larger Kamal, up from his 2017 World Championship weight of 55kg made the 60kg semifinals with three wins on Tuesday morning.
He only surrendered one point in his first two matches before edging junior European bronze medalist, Ararat MANUCHARYAN (ARM), 5-3 to make the semifinals.
In the semifinals, Karem will see three-time world representative, Razvan ARNAUT (ROU).
Reigning world champion, Amin KAVIYANINEJAD (IRI). Photo Max Rose-Fyne.
Meanwhile, the second reigning world champion Amin Kaviyaninejad barely broke a sweat, cruising to the 72kg semifinals while outscoring his opponents 25-0.
He’ll wrestle Russia’s three-time world team representative Magomed YARBILOV for a spot in tomorrow night’s finals.
The third Tampere world champion to make Tuesday night's semifinals was three-time reigning world champion, Aleksandr Komarov.
Komarov shutout his first two opponents 18-0, including a 10-0 win over reigning cadet world finalist Istvan TAKACS (HUN) before moving into the quarterfinals.
In the quarterfinals, Komarov narrowly squeaked past Iran’s Hosein FOROUZANDEH (IRI), 3-2. Komarov trailed 2-0 with less than 10 seconds left when Forouzandeh was penalized two points for a clear leg-foul. The Iranian coaches challenged the call and lost, giving Komarov his third point, and the 3-2 victory.
Komarov will meet Georgia's Aivengo RIKADZE on Tuesday night for a spot in his fourth straight age-level World Championship.
SEMIFINALS
60kg
Ali Reza Ayat Ollah NEJATI (IRI) vs. Vijay VIJAY (IND)
Kerem KAMAL (TUR) vs. Razvan ARNAUT (ROU)
67kg
Malkhas AMOYAN (ARM) vs. Ismail GUN (TUR)
Makhmud BAKHSHILLOEV (UZB) vs. Mohamed ELSAYED (EGY)
72kg
Magomed YARBILOV (RUS) vs. Amin Yavar KAVIYANINEJAD (IRI)
Minto MAEDA (JPN) vs. Nikoloz TCHIKAIDZE (GEO)
82kg
Aleksandr Andreevitch KOMAROV (RUS) vs. Aivengo RIKADZE (GEO)
Muhutdin SARICICEK (TUR) vs. Andrew Douglas BERREYESA (USA)
92kg
Markus RAGGINGER (AUT) vs. Balint VATZI (HUN)
Arvi Martin SAVOLAINEN (FIN) vs. Illia LAURYNOVICH (BLR)
