U23 Worlds Day Two: Iran and USA Secure Two Finalists Each
The semifinal matches of the second day of men’s freestyle wrestling at the U23 World Championships brought mixed results for Iran and the United States — each securing two finalists, while Azerbaijani wrestlers handed two key losses to American opponents.
Iran’s Sina Khalili and Abolfazl Mohammadzadeh earned their spots in the finals after strong victories over opponents from Moldova and Russia. Khalili dominated Aleksandr Gaidarli 8–2 at 70 kg, while Mohammadzadeh controlled Khabib Davudgaziev 5–0 at 125 kg.
Meanwhile, Iran’s other two wrestlers, Milad Valizadeh and Mehdi Yousefi, fell to American opponents but remained in contention for bronze after Luke Lilledahl (57 kg) and Levi Haines (79 kg) advanced to their respective finals.
Azerbaijan also had a successful round, with Kenan Heybatov defeating American Peter Duke 14–4 at 70 kg, and Khetag Karasanov overpowering Daniel Herrera 10–0 in the heavyweight semifinal. As a result, both Americans will wrestle for bronze medals.
Semifinal Results:
57 kg
Nodirbek Jumanazarov (Uzbekistan) 1 – Yuto Kikuchi (Japan) 6
Ayanday Ondar (Russia) 1 – Luke Lilledahl (USA) 7
Final: Yuto Kikuchi (Japan) vs. Luke Lilledahl (USA)
70 kg
Sina Khalili (Iran) 8 – Aleksandr Gaidarli (Moldova) 2
Kenan Heybatov (Azerbaijan) 14 – Peter Duke (USA) 4
Final: Sina Khalili (Iran) vs. Kenan Heybatov (Azerbaijan)
79 kg
Ibrahim Yaprak (Turkey) 5 – Nikita Dmitrijev (Belarus) 2
Davud Davudov (Russia) 4 – Levi Haines (USA) 11
Final: Ibrahim Yaprak (Turkey) vs. Levi Haines (USA)
125 kg
Khabib Davudgaziev (Russia) 0 – Abolfazl Mohammadzadeh (Iran) 5
Daniel Herrera (USA) 0 – Khetag Karasanov (Azerbaijan) 10
Final: Abolfazl Mohammadzadeh (Iran) vs. Khetag Karasanov (Azerbaijan)
With two finalists each, Iran and the USA remain in strong contention for gold medals, while Azerbaijan’s powerful performances once again highlighted the nation’s depth in freestyle wrestling.