Yakushenko vs Komarov Set for 97kg Final at U20 Worlds

BRATISLAVA, Slovakia (August 17) -- Ilia KOMAROV (RUS) became the fourth Russian wrestler to enter the final at the U20 World Championships as he looks to upgrade his bronze from last year to gold in Bratislava.

However, that will be an uphill task as he will face two-time defending champion Yehor YAKUSHENKO (UKR) in the 97kg final on Tuesday.

Both wrestlers dominated their way to the final, posting 8-0 technical superiority wins in the semifinals. Komarov faced Pauli PERKIOE (FIN) and scored a takedown to lead 2-0. He then turned the Finland wrestler three times to rack up six points.

Yakushenko took little more time to beat Erik TER MATEVOSYAN (ARM) in the other semifinal. He scored a turn from par terre to lead 3-0 at the break but managed a takedown and turn in the second period to lead 7-0. Armenia challenged the call and on review, a stepout was awarded to Yakushenko which gave him the win.

Other Russian wrestler to reach the final on Monday was Mingiian GORIAEV (RUS), the 2025 U20 European champion. He will aim to win his first world title after he held on to a 3-3 criteria win over 2025 U17 world champion Behruzbek VALIEV (UZB).

Goriaev turned Valiev to lead 3-1 as Valiev had a stepout. Valiev got the par terre in the second period but could not score but managed a late stepout to make it 3-3 but remained behind on criteria.

He will face the current U20 European champion Salih YAZICI (TUR) who managed a 7-2 win over Jorge GOMEZ (MEX). He scored two turns from par terre which proved to be the difference in the match as Gomez failed to score any points when he got par terre.

Former U17 world champion Armin SHAMSIPOUR (IRI) kept the hopes alive for Iran to win a gold medal after reaching the 55kg final. Shamsipour is Iran's first finalist at this U20 World Championships.

In the semifinal, he was up against U23 world bronze medalist Khojiakbar KUCHKAROV (UZB) and after giving up the par terre in the first period, Shamsipour was awarded the par terre in the second period. As he was about to score, Kuchkarov committed a leg foul which gave two points to Shamsipour. The Iranian defended his lead to enter the final in which he will face Koba KURAMIDZE (GEO), a former U20 and U23 European medalist.

Karumidze denied U20 European champion Emin JAVADLI (AZE), 11-2, in the other semifinal after dominating the first period of the match. He scored two turns from par terre and a stepout to lead 6-0. Javadli managed exposure points in the second period but lost a challenge as he asked for four.

Down 7-2, Javadli went for the flying squirrel move, only for Karumidze to control and bring him down for four points.

U20 European bronze medalist Mikhail MARKOUSKI (BLR) once again defeated Yurik MKHITARYAN (ARM) to enter the 67kg final. Markouski won the bronze medal in Skopje after a 4-1 win over Mkhitaryan but secured a fall in the semifinal in Bratislava.

Markouski began with a turn from par terre to lead 3-0 and then got the second par terre as well to lead 4-0. He later scored a four-point throw to extend his lead to 8-0 before putting Mkhitaryan on the mat for the fall.

From the other side of the 67kg bracket, Kazybek KALMAGAMBETOV (KAZ) made the final after he defeated U20 European champion Petro ZHYTOVOZ (HUN), 7-5, in a close semifinal. Zhytovoz led 3-0 at the break but when Kalmagambetov got the par terre in the second period, he turned Zhytovoz before lifting him for a four-point throw and lead 7-3.

There was a third passivity in the match that awards only the position and not points. Zhytovoz lifted Kalmagambetov and instead of keeping him inside, he went to the zone and complete a correct throw for two points which made the score 7-5.

RESULTS

55kg
SF 1: Armin SHAMSIPOUR (IRI) df. Khojiakbar KUCHKAROV (UZB), 3-1
SF 2: Koba KARUMIDZE (GEO) df. Emin JAVADLI (AZE), 11-2

67kg
SF 1: Mikhail MARKOUSKI (BLR) df. Yurik MKHITARYAN (ARM), via fall (8-0)
SF 2: Kazybek KALMAGAMBETOV (KAZ) df. Petro ZHYTOVOZ (HUN), 7-5

72kg
SF 1: Salih YAZICI (TUR) df. Jorge GOMEZ (MEX), 7-2
SF 2: Mingiian GORIAEV (RUS) df. Behruzbek VALIEV (UZB), 3-3

97kg
SF 1: Yehor YAKUSHENKO (UKR) df. Erik TER MATEVOSYAN (ARM), 8-0
SF 2: Ilia KOMAROV (RUS) df. Pauli PERKIOE (FIN), 8-0