Gutu Assures Himself of Elusive Medal with Fall for the Ages

ASTANA, Kazakhstan (October 24) -- Alexandrin GUTU (MDA) finally assured himself of an elusive senior world medal, doing it in highly unusual albeit impressive fashion. How many times have you seen a wrestler secure a fall while still standing?

Gutu used his unique maneuver to defeat Stoyan KUBATOV (BUL) in the Greco-Roman 77kg semifinals on Saturday as the finalists in four weight classes were decided on the opening day of the World Championships in Astana on Saturday.

“I had a great semifinal opponent, but I was 100% ready because I came here for a medal,” Gutu said. “We already knew each other well, but today I've prepared a different way of wrestling and I’m happy I managed to do what I've planned.

“I am very happy because it is my first senior world final.”

Meanwhile, Koto GOMI (JPN) showed nerves of steel by knocking off defending 60kg champion and home favorite Aidos SULTANGALI (KAZ) in his senior worlds debut, and Iran saw three of its four wrestlers make it through the semifinal stage.

Gutu came into Astana with a Michael Phelps-like collection of medals on the age-group levels, including three world U23 golds. But in three previous trips to the senior World Championships, the best he could manage was an eighth-place in 2023.

That all changed with his victory over Kubatov, who himself has never made the podium at a major senior tournament.

Soon after the opening whistle, Gutu pressed down on Kubatov’s head, forcing him to his knees. But instead of going the usual route and spinning behind for a takedown, Gutu reached over and secured a body lock.

He then lifted Kubatov high into the air, then smashed him back to the mat directly onto his shoulders. From there, he stayed standing and just pressed forward, leaving Kubatov unable to escape and securing the fall in 1:06.

In Sunday’s final, Gutu will face 2021 world silver medalist Sanan SULEYMANOV (AZE), who handed Iran’s its lone loss of the semifinals when he gained two passivity points in beating Asian silver medalist Ali OSKOU (IRI) 2-0.

The surprise of the session came at 60kg, when Gomi defied the partisan crowd and scored four points in the second period to dethrone Sultangali with a 5-1 victory.

“It was totally an ‘away’ match and my opponent had so many supporters,” Gomi said. “Conversely, that made me more motivated and it was good that I could come out with a win.”

Gomi, leading 1-0 in the second period, used a slick arm drag in the second period to score a takedown and added an exposure.

Sultangali managed to gain a reversal, but nothing else as Gomi fought off an arm drag attempt and then kept up the pressure to keep from giving up a passivity point and giving Sultangali a chance in par terre.

“Up to now, I had seen many World Championships and faced a number of wrestlers who had performed well in them,” Gomi said. “To be able to win at one really makes me happy.”

Gomi, who preceded the victory by ousting 2024 Paris Olympic silver medalist Liguo CAO (CHN) 7-1 in the quarterfinals, was the 2025 world U23 champion who showed glimpses on his potential on the senior level by winning the Zagreb Ranking Series title in February.

Ironically, Gomi was appearing at the World Championships as a “consolation prize” of sorts. He had lost a playoff with Ayata SUZUKI (JPN), who, like a number of other Japanese, opted to take part only in the Asian Games that Japan was hosting. Suzuki ended up taking a bronze medal.

Standing between the Japanese and a gold medal is Ali AHMADI VAFA (IRI), who moved one win from completing a world championships grand slam by grinding out an 8-3 victory over 2025 silver medalist Alisher GANIEV (UZB).

Ahmadi Vafa, an Asian bronze medalist this year, jumped out to a 5-0 lead with a throw from par terre, which had a foot-stepping penalty tacked on.

The ever-dangerous Ganiev, who spent the morning tossing around his opponents like rag dolls and chalking up 4-pointers, got his chance in the second period -- and came pretty darn close.

After a gut wrench to cut the gap to 2, Ganiev came inches from another as Ahmadi Vafa just managed to keep his shoulders from breaking the 90-degree plane. The Uzbek side challenged, perhaps looking for a foul, but it was in vain.

Ahmadi Vafa then put the match away by countering an arm throw attempt for a final takedown. He will be looking to complete the grand slam, having won the world U17 gold in 2022 and both the world U20 and U23 in 2024.

The defending champion also fell at 55kg, when experience won out over youth as Eldaniz AZIZLI (AZE) knocked off 2025 gold medalist Vakhtang LOLUA (GEO) with a solid 5-1 victory.

The 34-year-old Azizli, receiving the first chance a par terre, took full advantage, using a gut wrench to roll the teenaged Lolua twice. In the second period, Lolua had his shot, but Azizli would not be budged.

The victory was a repeat of Azizli’s 9-0 win over Lolua in the quarterfinals of the 2025 European Championships, and gives him a shot a fifth world title and first since winning three in a row from 2022 to 2024.

It also assures him of a higher spot on the medal podium after having to settle for a third-place finish last year in Zagreb, the third bronze of his career. Azizli said a fifth gold medal would be a perfect way to cap his career.

“I have four gold medals at the World Championships which is a record for Azerbaijan,” he said. “And tomorrow, I will win the record fifth world title and retire.”

In the other semifinal, 2025 silver medalist Payam AHMADI (IRI) capped a fortuitous 20th birthday by topping local favorite Iskhar KURBAYEV (KAZ) 7-1.

Kurbayev gained the first activity point, but Ahmadi reversed from bottom to lead 1-1 on criteria at the break. In the second period, Ahmadi used a chest-wrap lift at the edge that wasn’t so pretty -- he ended up landing on his back -- but was awarded 4. An unsuccessful challenge made it 7-1, which is how it ended.

The final will be a rematch of semifinals at last year’s worlds in Zagreb, in which Ahmadi defeated Azizli 3-1 before losing in the final to Lolua.

“The win [in Zagreb] over Azizli doesn’t matter,” Ahmadi said. “It is in the past, and only the present in Astana matters.”

There is still a chance of a title repeat at 82kg, where reigning champion Gholamreza FAROKHI (IRI) advanced to a gold-medal clash with Yuksel SARICICEK (TUR), who knocked off two-time world champion and Olympic medalist Akzhol MAKHMUDOV (KGZ) 6-0.

Farokhi gave up an early 2-point arm throw and passivity point to Gamzat GADZHIEV (RUS), but came through with a gut wrench from par terre in the second period to win 3-3 on last-point criteria.

Saricicek, a winner at this year’s Zagreb Ranking Series, was ahead after receiving two passivity points when Makhmudov got a chance on top in par terre.

Makhmudov, whose spectacular throws have made him a fan favorite around the world, got Saricicek up into the air, but in a bizarre scramble, Saricicek squirmed beneath Makhmudov and sent him to his back for a 4-point move that was decided on challenge.

Day 1 Results

Greco-Roman

55kg (23 entries)
SF 1: Eldaniz AZIZLI (AZE) df. Vakhtang LOLUA (GEO), 5-1
SF 2: Payam AHMADI (IRI) df. Iskhar KURBAYEV (KAZ), 7-1

60kg (24 entries)
SF 1: Ali AHMADI VAFA (IRI) df. Alisher GANIEV (UZB), 8-3
SF 2: Koto GOMI (JPN) df. Aidos SULTANGALI (KAZ), 5-1

77kg (31 entries)
SF 1: Sanan SULEYMANOV (AZE) df. Ali OSKOU (IRI), 2-0
SF 2: Alexandrin GUTU (MDA) df. Stoyan KUBATOV (BUL) by Fall, 1:06 (5-0)

82kg (25 entries)
SF 1: Gholamreza FAROKHI (IRI) df. Gamzat GADZHIEV (RUS), 3-3
SF 2: Yuksel SARICICEK (TUR) df. Akzhol MAKHMUDOV (KGZ), 6-0