#BuchaWrestU23

17 Countries Represented in U23 Greco-Roman World Semifinals

Monday, November 12, 2018 - 14:57 By Taylor Miller

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BUCHAREST, Romania – Greco-Roman action opened the first day of the U23 World Championships on Monday in Bucharest, Romania. The first batch of semifinals are set and feature 17 different nations.

Highlighting the 55 kg semifinals is Nugzari TSURTSUMIA (GEO), who claimed a World bronze medal just two weeks ago at the 2018 Senior World Championships in Budapest, Hungary.

To open his tournament, the Georgian defeated Norair Hakohoyan of Armenia, who was fifth in Hungary.

Tsutsumia will take on 2012 Cadet World bronze medalist Balbai Dordokov of Kyrgyzstan for a spot in the finals.

The other 55 kg semifinal will pit 2015 Junior World bronze medalist Amangali BEKBOLATOV (KAZ) against 2018 Russia Nationals champion Vitalii KABALOEV (RUS).

At 63 kg, hometown favorite Mihai MIHUT (ROU) advanced to the semifinals, defeating 2017 Junior World bronze medalist Magomed MAGOMEDOV (RUS) and two-time age-group World bronze winner SLavik GALSTYAN (ARM) in the morning session.

Mihut, a 2015 Junior World bronze medalist, will vie for a spot in the finals against Alexandru BICIU (MDA).

Meysam DALKHANI (IRI), who won Junior World bronze medal in 2016, advance to the 63 kg semifinals, where he will face Katsuaki ENDO (JPN).

There are two 2017 U23 World champions featured in the 77 kg semis, including World champ at 75 kg Fatih CENGIZ (TUR) and World champ at 71 kg Daniel CATARAGA (MDA).

Cengiz will take on 2018 U23 European champion Rajbek BISULTANOV (DEN), while Cataraga will face 2018 Junior World silver medalist and 2017 Junior World bronze medalist Sajan SAJAN (IND).

Three-time age-group World champion Islam ABBASOV (AZE) dominated his first bout of the day against Kanta SHIOKAWA (JPN), 9-0, before having to battle back from a late deficit against Gurami KHETSURIAN (GEO) in the quarterfinals to land a spot in the 87 kg semifinals.

Tonight, he will take on Semen NOVIKOV (UKR).

The other 87 kg semi features 2018 Pan American champion Daniel GREGORICH (CUB) vs. U23 European bronze medalist Gazi KHALILOV (RUS).

At 130 kg, three-time Junior World champion and two-time Cadet World champion Zviadi PATARIDZE (GEO) will face Konsta MAEENPAEAE (FIN) in the semifinals.

Pataridze took second at last year’s U23 Worlds, while Maeenpaeae finished with bronze.

Battling for the other finals spot at 130 kg is 2016 Junior World silver medalist and two-time Junior World bronze medalist Osman YILDIRIM (TUR) and Abdellatif MOHAMED (EGY).

The semifinals are set for 6 p.m. on Monday night. Fans can watch live on unitedworldwrestling.org.

Semifinals matchups

55 kg
Balbai DORDOKOV (KGZ) vs. Nugzari TSURTSUMIA (GEO)
Amangali BEKBOLATOV (KAZ) vs. Vitalii KABALOEV (RUS)

63 kg
Katsuaki ENDO (JPN) vs. Meysam DALKHANI (IRI)
Alexandru BICIU (MDA) vs. Mihai MIHUT (ROU)

77 kg
Rajbek BISULTANOV (DEN) vs. Fatih CENGIZ (TUR)
Sajan SAJAN (IND) vs. Daniel CATARAGA (MDA)

87 kg
Semen NOVIKOV (UKR) vs. Islam ABBASOV (AZE)
Daniel GREGORICH (CUB) vs. Gazi KHALILOV (RUS)

130 kg
Zviadi PATARIDZE (GEO) vs. Konsta MAEENPAEAE (FIN)
Osman YILDIRIM (TUR) vs. Abdellatif MOHAMED (EGY)

#WrestleTirana

European Championships 2026 Day 3: Women's Wrestling Highlights

Wednesday, April 22, 2026 - 08:27 By Vinay Siwach

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TIRANA, Albania (April 22) -- After two days of intense Greco-Roman action, the European Championships will shift to Women's Wrestling with five weight classes - 50kg, 55kg, 59kg, 68kg and 76kg.

WATCH LIVE | LIVE MATCH ORDER | Women's Wrestling Preview

https://link.uww.org/UWWPlus

12:40: Emanuela LIUZZI (ITA), leading her 50kg quarterfinal, 9-3 with 45 seconds left in the match against Emilia GRIGORE VUC (ROU), suffers a 19-9 loss. Vuc scores a takedown to cut the lead to 9-5. She then trips Liuzzi for another takedown for two points and then turns her six times to finish the bout.

12:25: Oksana LIVACH (UKR), the defending champion at 50kg and wrestling first time in quarterfinals, uses a strong gut-wrench to beat Svenja JUNGO (SUI), 12-1, and advance to the semifinals.

12:05: Martina KUENZ (AUT), chasing her first European title, with a flurry of quick action and she finishes her quarterfinal against Elmira YASIN (TUR), 10-0. Big step towards winning the gold medal.

11:55: Defending champion at 76kg Anastasiya ALPYEYEVA (UKR) does not let Valeriia TRIFONOVA (UWW) settle in their 76kg quarterfinal. She scores two takedowns to lead 4-0 before a flurry of stepouts. She finishes the match with a takedown on edge, 10-0.

11:45: Alina SHAUCHUK (UWW) gets her second win of the tournament as she uses a gut-wrenches to beat Noemi SZABADOS (HUN) 10-0 and advance to the semifinals at 68kg.

11:40: Ekaterina VERBINA (UWW), the defending champion at 55kg, goes down to U23 world silver medalist Tuba DEMIR (TUR) in the quarterfinals. Demir pushed the pace of the match and led 8-0. As Verbina was working on a takedown, Demir scored a counter exposure but Verbina quickly turned it around and made it 10-2 to avoid a technical superiority. Verbina challenged the first exposure but lost which made the score 11-2. A takedown and turn cut the lead to 11-6 but Demir managed another takedown at the end to win 13-6, downing the defending champion

11:30: Liliia MALANCHUK (UKR) works up an 8-0 victory over Veronika KONSEVICH (MKD) at 55kg. Malanchuk used four different takedowns to score her points.

11:25: Martina KUENZ (AUT), the returning bronze medalist at 76kg, opens the second period with a big throw and then holds Anastasiya ZIMIANKOVA (UWW) on the mat to secure the fall.

11:15: Tindra SJOEBERG (SWE) secures a fall over Daniela BRASNAROVA (BUL) in just 27 seconds at 68kg.

11:05: U23 world silver medalist and returning bronze Valeriia TRIFONOVA (UWW) takes her time but she works on an 11-0 victory over Fanni NAGY NAD (SRB) and advance to the quarterfinals at 76kg.

10:55: First match at 68kg and defending champion Alina SHAUCHUK (UWW) faces Karolina DOMASZUK (POL). Shauchuk, who recently won the U23 European title as well, starts off with a 10-0 technical superiority win.