Mohamadi, Novikov Set Up Olympic Rematch; Esmaeili Denies Jafarov

ASTANA, Kazakhstan (October 24) -- Two world champions will clash for the gold medal at 67kg after defending world champion Saeid ESMAEILI (IRI) and 63kg world champion Aytjan KHALMAKHANOV (UZB) also moved into the final, having moved up to 67kg.

Esmaeili got the better of Hasrat JAFAROV (IRI), the third time in last year, after a 1-1 criteria win in the semifinals. Esmaeili was awarded the position in the first period but he failed to break the defense of Jafarov and led only 1-0 at the break. Jafarov got the par terre advantage in the second period but he too failed to score any points.

The other semifinals at 67kg was more action-packed as Khalmakhanov defeated Slavik GALSTYAN (ARM), avenging a loss via fall at the Budapest Ranking Series. Khalmakhanov was the first to get the par terre position but he managed only a stepout after lifting and throwing Galstyan to lead only 2-0 at the break.

The second period began with Khalmakhanov pushing for a stepout that extended his lead to 3-0 but Armenia challenged the call. On review, the stepout was confirmed and Galstyan was now down 4-0. Khalmakhnov defended that lead to enter his second straight World Championships final.

Esmaeili and Khalmakhanov have wrestled each other once before, at the Islamic Solidarity Games in November last year, with the Iranian humbling the Uzbekistan wrestler 9-0.

At 87kg, Alireza MOHMADI (IRI) and Semen NOVIKOV (UKR) set up a rematch of the 2024 Paris Olympic final that was won by the Ukrainian. Mohamdi dominated Gevorg TADEVOSYAN (ARM), 10-1, to win the semifinals and enter his second straight World Championships.

The returning silver medalist will face Novikov for the gold medal after the Ukrainian won 2-0 against Mukhammadkodir RASULOV (UZB), getting both points throw par terre positions. While Mohamadi has since avenged the Paris loss in 2025, the two are expected to have a tense final on Tuesday.

Former world champion Nihat MAMMADLI (AZE) is back into the world final, two years after winning the gold in 2024. Mammadli made it to the 63kg final after a 2-2 criteria win over former world champion Sergey EMELIN (RUS).

Emelin was awarded both par terre position that gave him a 2-0 lead but with around a minute left in the semifinals, Mammadli got the third par terre, that is only for position with no points.

Mammadli managed to turn Emelin from par terre to take a 2-2 criteria lead as his move was bigger than the one-point scoring sequence of Emelin.

Former European silver medalist Karen ASLANYAN (ARM) will try to stop Mammadli from winning his second world title after he stopped Edmond NAZARYAN (BUL), 12-4, in the other semifinals.

RESULTS

63kg
SF 1: Karen ASLANYAN (ARM) df. Edmond NAZARYAN (BUL), 12-4
SF 2: Nihat MAMMADLI (AZE) df. Sergey EMELIN (RUS), 2*-2

67kg
SF 1: Aytjan KHALMAKHANOV (UZB) df. Slavik GALSTYAN (ARM), 4-0
SF 2: Saeid ESMAEILI (IRI) df. Hasrat JAFAROV (AZE), 1*-1

87kg
SF 1: Alireza MOHMADI (IRI) df. Gevorg TADEVOSYAN (ARM), 10-1
SF 2: Semen NOVIKOV ( BUL) df. Mukhammadkodir RASULOV (UZB), 2-0