Magamedkhanov, Gaidarli Stop Russia Gold Sweep at U23 European Championships

Tuesday, March 10, 2026 - 23:18 By Vinay Siwach

ZRENJANIN, Serbia (March 9) -- Russia needed the calm of the Khaniev brothers to help it return to winning ways at the U23 European Championships after it suffered two shocking losses in the Freestyle finals on Tuesday.

After qualifying five finalists in as many weight classes on Monday, Russia expected to win all five gold medals, 57kg, 65kg, 70kg, 79kg and 97kg, on Tuesday.

It began well with Aiandai ONDAR (RUS) winning the first gold of the evening as he defeated former U20 European champion Vasif BAGHIROV (AZE), 7-3, in the final. He scored all his points in the second period after an actionless first period.

But panic spread in the Russian camp when Magomedkhan MAGAMEDKHANOV (BLR) pulled a rabbit out of the hat by pinning Dzhambulat KIZINOV (RUS) when the Russian was leading 8-0 in the 65kg final.

A few moments later U20 world silver medalist Alexandr GAIDARLI (MDA) downed defending champion Magomed ELTEMIROV (RUS), 3-2, in the 70kg final. He scored a stepout in the final 30 seconds to take a 2-2 criteria lead before a lost challenge from Russia added one more point to his score.

The Khaniev brothers -- Ismail KHANIEV (RUS) and Takhir KHANIEV (RUS) -- salvaged some lost pride for Russia by sweeping the 79kg and 97kg gold medals, respectively as Russia ended with three gold and two silver medals. It has three more wrestlers going for gold in Freestyle on Wednesday.

Magomedkhan MAGAMEDOV (BLR) celebrates after winning the 65kg gold medal. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kostadin Andonov)

Magamedkhanov, Gaidarli Win

The first shock came in the 65kg final when Magamedkhanov, down 8-0, had little chance of victory as Kizinov needed only two more points to finish the final.

However, Magamedkhanov shot deep and Kizinov answered with a chestwrap defense. But as he tried to roll over Magamedkhanov, Kizinov's back got planted on the mat and Magamedkhanov kept him in this position and the referee called the fall.

Kizinov was shell-shocked as he took time to realize that he was the losing wrestler. Russia threw a pointless challenge, though confirmed falls cannot be challenged unless a foul has been committed. Kizinov accepted his fate as Magamedkhanov's hand was raised.

Then came the 70kg final with returning champ Eltemirov a clear favorite over Gaidarli, a U23 world bronze medalist last year.

Eltemirov led 2-0 when he was hit with an activity clock and as he failed to score any points in that 30-second window, Gaidarli got his first point on the board.

With 36 seconds left in the bout, Gaidarli pushed Eltemirov out of the wrestling zone to earn another point and lead 2-2 on criteria of last point scored. Eltemirov tried various holds to score a point to lead and win but Gaidarli defended. Russia threw a helpless challenge only to see another point added to Gaidarli's score for losing it.

The sizable Moldovan crowd cheered as Gaidarli's hand was raised and they hung around to get photos with the U23 European champion from Moldova, only the second in the country's history in Freestyle.

Takhir KHANIEV (RUS) Khaniev brothers, Takhir and Ismail, pose with their gold medals. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kostadin Andonov)

Khaniev Brothers Turnaround

The scene turned from somber to cheerful when Khaniev secured an 11-0 victory over Sabuhi AMIRASLANOV (AZE) in the 79kg final.

He opened the scoring with a stepout before Amiraslanov was put on the activity clock. Amiraslanov failed to score in the designated 30 seconds which gave a point to Khaniev who also scored a stepout to lead 3-0 at the break. A takedown and two high gut-wrenches extended his lead to 9-0 before using a head outside single-leg attack to finish the bout 11-0 just before the clock was about to expire.

His elder brother Takhir was quicker as he defeated former U20 European champion Ivan PRYMACHENKO (UKR), 10-0, in three minutes and 25 seconds in the 97kg final.

Takhir, who defeated world champion Kyle SNYDER (USA) in Tirana, was called passive and on cue he scored a takedown and turn to lead 4-0. He extended his lead to 6-0 with another takedown and a little later, he locked Prymachenko from behind but could only score a stepout along with a point for the Ukrainian's fleeing.

And 25 seconds into the second period, he finished the bout with an identical move as his brother, head outside single-leg, and score the match-winning takedown.

RESULTS

57kg
GOLD: Aiandai ONDAR (RUS) df. Vasif BAGHIROV (AZE), 7-3

BRONZE: Nikoloz BOTCHORISHVILI (GEO) df. Rassoul GALBOURAEV (FRA)
BRONZE: Arman HARUTYUNYAN (ARM) df. Artsiom PAULIUCHENKA (BLR), 10-0

65kg
GOLD: Magomedkhan MAGAMEDKHANOV (BLR) df. Dzhambulat KIZINOV (RUS), via fall (3-8)

BRONZE: Musa AGHAYEV (AZE) df. Arman MUSIKYAN (ARM), 6-4
BRONZE: Viktor BOROHAN (UKR) df. Yusuf TUMER (TUR), 12-6

70kg
GOLD: Alexandr GAIDARLI (MDA) df. Magomed ELTEMIROV (RUS), 3-2

BRONZE: Davit MARGARYAN (ARM) df. Marcel WAGIN (GER), 5-2
BRONZE: Ramik HEYBATOV (AZE) df. Mykyta SARIIEV (UKR), 10-0

79kg
GOLD: Ismail KHANIEV (RUS) df. Sabuhi AMIRASLANOV (AZE), 11-0

BRONZE: Ibrahim YAPRAK (TUR) df. Mateusz PEDZICKI (POL), via inj. def.
BRONZE: Giorgi GOGRITCHIANI (GEO) df. Aliaksandr VIARBITSKI (BLR), 8-7

97kg
GOLD: Takhir KHANIEV (RUS) df. Ivan PRYMACHENKO (UKR), 10-0

BRONZE: Zafar ALIYEV (AZE) df. Emirhan KILIC (TUR), 19-9
BRONZE: Konstantine PETRIASHVILI (GEO) df. Nikolaos KARAVANOS (GRE), 4-0

Semifinals

61kg
GOLD: Levik MIKAYELYAN (ARM) vs. Jeyhun ALLAHVERDIYEV (AZE)

SF 1: Jeyhun ALLAHVERDIYEV (AZE) df. Besir ALILI (MKD), via inj. def. (12-5)
SF 2: Levik MIKAYELYAN (ARM) df. Tolga OZBEK (TUR), 10-3

74kg
GOLD: Manuel WAGIN (GER) vs. Seyfulla ITAEV (FRA)

SF 1: Manuel WAGIN (GER) df. Magomed BAITUKAEV (RUS), 7-1
SF 2: Seyfulla ITAEV (FRA) df. Aghanazar NOVRUZOV (AZE), 7-2

86kg
GOLD: Bozigit ISLAMGEREEV (RUS) vs. Ahmet YAGAN (TUR)

SF 1: Bozigit ISLAMGEREEV (RUS) df. Vasif KHUDIYEV (AZE), 3-2
SF 2: Ahmet YAGAN (TUR) df. Artur KOSTIUK (UKR), 4-2

92kg
GOLD: Fatih ALTUNBAS (TUR) vs. Ali TCOKAEV (AZE)

SF 1: Fatih ALTUNBAS (TUR) df. Krisztian ANGYAL (HUN), 6-2
SF 2: Ali TCOKAEV (AZE) df. Mustafagadzhi MALACHDIBIROV (RUS), 6-4

125kg
GOLD: Khabib DAVUDGADZHIEV (RUS) vs. Yusif DURSUNOV (AZE)

SF 1: Khabib DAVUDGADZHIEV (RUS) df. Aleksandre ABRAMISHVILI (GEO), 6-3
SF 2: Yusif DURSUNOV (AZE) df. Stsiapan MANDRYK (BLR), 3-2

Wrestling 2026 Season Preview: Freestyle, Women's Wrestling, Greco-Roman

Tuesday, February 3, 2026 - 11:11 By Vinay Siwach

CORSIER-SUR-VEVEY, Switzerland (February 2) -- The 2025 World Championships in Zagreb marked a turning point in international wrestling as 18 first-time world champions were crowned, signaling the arrival of a new generation well before the qualification cycle for the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games begins.

A few scenes in Zagreb showed what the titles meant. A women’s champion hugging anyone she could find, a Freestyle winner delivering revenge, and a Greco-Roman champion lifting a nation’s pride. Now, 2026 will determine whether those champions can turn a breakthrough into sustained dominance, or if the veterans will reclaim control.

For traditional powers like the United States, Iran, and Japan, maintaining dominance will be harder than ever as more countries close the gap.

In Women’s Wrestling, Japan is being challenged by the DPR Korea, while in Freestyle the U.S. and Iran remain the central rivalry. In Greco-Roman, Iran is undoubtedly the best team in the world but Azerbaijan and Uzbekistan are closing the gap as another strong season approaches.

As wrestling moves toward LA 2028, 2026 becomes the year where storylines start to stick. The UWW Pro Series is part of that shift, taking its final shape before launch. Wrestlers will be rewarded for their ranks for the year and will stand a chance to win a grand prize.

The fans can follow wrestling with United World Wrestling through UWW+ on uww.org, Instagram, Facebook, X, TikTok, YouTube.

Freestyle

A Sadulaev vs Yazdani final at the World Championships. A match-up like no other can happen in 2026.

The 2026 season begins with a question: when will Hassan YAZDANI (IRI) return? A dream match against Abdulrashid SADULAEV (UWW) is now firmly on the cards. Yazdani, the 2016 Olympic champion at 74kg, is now competing at 97kg, ten years later. Sadulaev, who won Olympic gold at 86kg in Rio, moved to 97kg soon after that gold.

The Iranian may compete at the Zagreb Open or at the Tirana Ranking Series. If the return is delayed, world silver medalist Amirali AZARPIRA (IRI) will likely carry the weight for Iran early in the season.

At the same time, several major stars are preparing comebacks. Olympic champion Razambek JAMALOV (UZB) is expected to return after recovering from shoulder surgery, while Rei HIGUCHI (JPN) is also set to resume competition, most likely around May.

READ THE FULL FREESTYLE PREVIEW HERE

Women’s Wrestling

Japan captured five of the 10 medals on offer at the World Championships and nothing less is expected from its wrestlers. But out of the first four weight classes, it managed to win only one gold and missed out on medals in two of them.

Missing a medal at 50kg is rare for Japan. It happened in 2009, then in 2019 and in 2025. So what can be expected from the best country in Women's Wrestling or perhaps wrestling?

The DPR Korea, China, India, Ukraine and the United States keep challenging Japan at various competitions but it has managed to hold its own. With the gap closing, 2026 will be a similar story.

Continental Championships will be the first test for countries building towards the year-ending World Championships. But these tournaments can also witness the returns of a few wrestlers. Yui SUSAKI (JPN), Anastasia NICHITA (MDA), Amit ELOR (USA), Maria YEFREMOVA (UKR), and possibly VINESH (IND).

Additionally, several medal contenders are shifting weight classes in 2026, opening their paths to medals at the World Championships and later at the Olympics.

READ THE FULL WOMEN'S WRESTLING PREVIEW HERE

Greco-Roman

Iran ruled Greco-Roman in 2025 with dominant performances at all levels, and it was not even close. Barring that one battle with Uzbekistan at the U17 World Championships, Iran remained untouched. In 2022 and 2023, it showed signs of long-term dominance and in 2024, it won two gold medals, one silver and one bronze medal at the Paris Olympics. Then in 2025, it won team titles at all age-group levels.

At the World Championships in Zagreb, it won four gold, two silver and two bronze medals. Out of the 10 wrestlers, eight won medals, missing only at 77kg and 60kg. Will 2026 be Iran's year again?

Mohammadhadi SARAVI (IRI), Saeid ESMAEILI (IRI) and Amin MIRZAZADEH (IRI) make the core team. World champion Gholamreza FAROKHI (IRI) has been the latest sensation, going unbeaten in 2025 and winning the U23 world gold at 87kg. Alireza MOHAMADI (IRI) is also a proven wrestler at 87kg having won an Olympic and world silver.

Iran has a second team which can challenge any established star in the world. U20 and U23 world champion Fardin HEDAYATI (IRI) is a wrestler waiting for his turn at 130kg. Hedayati is getting closer to beating Mirzazadeh in selection for the Iran team.

Payam AHMADI (IRI), Alireza ABDEVALI (IRI) and Ahmadi VAFA (IRI) are already part of the team while younger stars wait for their turns.

But there has been an influx of talent in Greco-Roman in the new cycle especially with Uzbekistan, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Japan, Armenia and UWW wrestlers stepping up.

READ THE FULL GRECO-ROMAN PREVIEW HERE

Magamedkhanov, Gaidarli Stop Russia Gold Sweep at U23 European Championships

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Wrestling 2026 Season Preview: Freestyle, Women's Wrestling, Greco-Roman