Erzu ZAKRIEV of Russia won the Greco-Roman 67kg gold medal at the 2026 U23 World Championships in Las Vegas, United States on Tuesday.
LAS VEGAS, United States (October 13) -- Despite two flight cancellations, severe jet lag, and little time to prepare, Erzu ZAKRIEV (RUS) made sure none of those issues hampered his quest for the U23 world title in Las Vegas.
Zakriev, who reached Las Vegas only 24 hours before his competition, stormed through the competition and won the Greco-Roman 67kg gold medal. He posted five technical superiority wins to claim his second age-group title, to along with a silver medal he won at the U20 World Championships last year.
"I got really sick, and I was still sick during the competition," Zakriev said. "Despite being ill, I managed to win all my bouts by technical superiority. I worked on my mistakes and started working even harder. And now, standing at the top of the podium feels much better than finishing second."
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Facing returning bronze medalist Azat SARIYAR (TUR) in the final, Zakriev was awarded the first par terre position but he failed utilize the position and did not score any points, leading only 1-0. However, he unleased a deadly arm throw for four points to extend his lead to 5-0.
Sariyar attempted a bodylock in the second period but Zakriev blocked and brought Sariyar down on the mat to get the fall. The pin was confirmed despite a late challenge from Turkiye.
In the semifinals, he was up against Mohammad KAMALI (IRI) and posted a come-from-behind victory. Kamali scored a takedown using an arm-drag for two points. But the arm-throw once again rescued Zakriev who scored a four-pointer. Two step outs later, it swelled to 6-2.
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Kamali tried to find a way to reduce the deficit, however, Zakriev countered with a head throw for two points to lead 8-2 at the break. The two wrestlers tried to get the underhooks but it was Zakriev who managed to transition to a bodylock, lifted Kamali and planted him back first for four points for the win.
"The toughest opponent was the Iranian wrestler. He's young and powerful," he said.
Zakriev lost at the Russian National Championships, failing to make the senior team for the World Championships. However, the Goyty village native in Grozny district, is confident that he will soon be achieve that as well.
"I have big plans. My goal is the World Championships," he said. "I think that if I wrestle the way I did at [the U23] World Championships, everything will work out for me."
Kazakhstan crowned two world champions on Tuesday after Aibek AITBEKOV (KAZ) and Yussuf ASHRAPOV (KAZ) pulled off thrilling victories at 60kg and 72kg respectively.
Aitbekov was up against U23 world champion at 55kg Elmir ALIYEV (AZE), who was moving up to 60kg, in the final. He opened the scoring with a slide-by for two points before adding one point with a stepout and lead 3-0 at the break.
Aliyev went for the underhook throw soon after the break and took a 4-3 lead. He continued the position and lifted Aitbekov and tried another throw but the Kazakhstan wrestler blocked and dropped him on the mat for two points. He then lifted Aliyev and then threw him for two more points to lead 7-4, when Azerbaijan challenged.
On review, there was no foul and the second throw was changed to four points instead of two which gave Aitbekov a 9-4 lead with 2:13 remaining in the bout. Aitbekov did not need that long to win the gold as 30 seconds later, he threw Aliyev again for four points.
At 72kg, Ashrapov had a closer final against U20 world champion Gaspar TERTERYAN (ARM), coming back from a 3-0 deficit to win the final 4-3, capturing his career's first gold medal after bronze at U17 World Championships and silver at the U20 World Championships.
Terteryan used a high gutwrench to score two points from par terre and lead 3-0 in the first period. Ashrapov began the second period with a stepout before getting the par terre. From 3-2, Ashrapov used reverse lock to score two exposure points and lead 4-3 which he defended till the end.
60kg
GOLD: Aibek AITBEKOV (KAZ) df. Elmir ALIYEV (AZE), 13-4
BRONZE: Seima TOKUHARA (JPN) df. Yevhen POKOVBA (UKR), 9-4
BRONZE: Kubanych ARINOV (KGZ) df. Mehroj BAKHRAMOV (UZB), via fall
67kg
GOLD: Erzu ZAKRIEV (RUS) df. Azat SARIYAR (TUR), via fall (8-0)
BRONZE: Takaku SUZUKI (JPN) df. Anri KHOZREVANIDZE (GEO), 5-4
BRONZE: Mohammad KAMALI (IRI) df. Yurik HOVEYAN (ARM),
72kg
GOLD: Yussuf ASHRAPOV (KAZ) df. Gaspar TERTERYAN (ARM), 4-3
BRONZE: Nilson SINISTERRA (COL) df. Nika BROLADZE (GEO), 8-5
BRONZE: Ibrahim OZDEMIR (TUR) df. Farid KHALILOV (AZE), 10-0
82kg
GOLD: Abolfazl MOHMEDI (IRI) df. Martik PETROSYAN (ARM), 2-1
BRONZE: Erlan MARS UULU (KGZ) df. Alexander JOHANSSON (SWE), via fall (4-5)
BRONZE: Tornike MIKELADZE (GEO) df. Ramazan ARAPKHANOV (RUS), 3-1
97kg
GOLD: Abubakar KHASLAKHANAU (BLR) df. Yehor YAKUSHENKO (UKR), 2-1
BRONZE: Darius KIEFER (GER) df. Magomed MUKHTAROV (RUS),
BRONZE: Hadi SEYDI (IRI) df. Nurassyl AMANALY (KAZ), 8-0
