2026 U23 European Championships

Magamedkhanov, Gaidarli Stop Russia Gold Sweep at U23 European Championships

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

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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)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.

"This is my biggest victory [yet]," Gaidarli said. "You could even say it’s bigger than the World Championship in Bulgaria, because gold is still gold. I consider this my greatest achievement so far."

Gaidarli won a silver medal at the U20 World Championships in Samokov, Bulgaria last year. In a tense final against PJ DUKE (USA) at 70kg, the American defeated Gaidarli, 7-5.

"I would also like to wrestle Duke again and take revenge," he said. "I think we will meet again more than once."  

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.

"I’m satisfied, but there were some mistakes on my part," Ismail Khaniev said. "I’m only partly satisfied with my wrestling itself. I could have wrestled better and executed more technical actions."

Having won the gold medal at the U23 European Championships last year as well, Khaniev was aware of the competition and did not put himself under undue pressure.

"I already had the experience, I felt confident on the mat, and there wasn’t much pressure," he said. "Our next goal is the Russian Championships. If I qualify there, then the next step would be the World Championships. Otherwise, I will compete for a spot at the U20 World Championships."

 

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.

Photo

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

#WrestleNoviSad

Yakushenko levels up with first U23 World Championships gold

Wednesday, October 22, 2025 - 15:49 By Vinay Siwach

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NOVI SAD, Serbia (October 22) -- Yehor YAKUSHENKO (UKR) has lost only one bout in 2025 but that one loss remains tied to him when he steps on the mat.

At the U20 European Championships final, Yakushenko lost to Darius KIEFER (GER), 5-3, losing his gold medal to the German wrestler. But using that loss as a lesson and motivation, Yakushenko has now won two world titles in the space of two months.

The 19-year-old won gold at the U20 World Championships in August and on Wednesday at the U23 World Championships in Novi Sad, Yakushenko won his first U23 world title.

"If I hadn’t lost at the Europeans, I wouldn’t have won at Worlds," Yakushenko said. "Sometimes a loss can be for the better. It motivated me and helped me mentally."

Yakushenko, who avenged that loss to Kiefer at U20 Worlds, wrestled with great temperament at the U23 Worlds despite carrying an injury after his first bout. In four matches, he began with a win over Luka GABISONIA (GEO), held off Abubakar KHASLAKHANU (UWW) and defeated Richard KARELSON (EST) in the semifinals.

Facing senior Asia silver medalist Iussuf MATSIYEV (KAZ) in the final, Yakushenko used a stepout and turn from par terre to lead 4-0. Matsiyev was docked two points for a defensive foul as Yakushenko extended his lead to 6-0.

When Matsiyev got the par terre position in the second period, Yakushenko easily defended it and managed to win the final 6-1, thus claiming gold.

"I’m euphoric right now," he said. "I feel that it really wasn’t that easy. I guess I just worked hard and prepared well, went through good training. My shoulder hurts a little. But I think it’s actually from the rib."

Yakushenko was in Porec, Croatia at the preparatory camp for senior World Championships. Though he did not participate in the tournament, Yakushenko was part of the Ukraine team and watched the matches in Zagreb.

"We had a camp in Croatia, where many countries were present," he said. "I watched, got motivated, I was overwhelmed with emotions. My weight category is very strong, but I think everything is within my reach."

The two-time U20 world champion believes that needs to build more strength to be ready for the senior level but will not shy from a chance to earn his spot on the senior Ukrainian team next year.

"I still need to build more physical strength," he said. "But technically, I don’t think I have problems, and my endurance is good too. 

"There should be the Ukrainian Cup in November, I’m not sure yet. It’s the qualification event for the European Championships. Maybe I’ll compete there, give our senior team a bit of a shake-up. I don’t know yet, I’ll depend on what my coach says. Whatever he decides, I’ll do."

Iran closer to cleansweep

Iran won its third gold medal in Greco at the U23 World Championships and has now all-but-confirmed the team trophy. With the team title in Novi Sad, Iran will assert its domination in Greco as it won team titles in all World Championships -- U17 in Athens, U20 in Samokov and senior in Zagreb -- to go with the one in Novi Sad, Serbia.

It consolidated its position on the top when former U23 world champion at 63kg, Iman MOHAMMADI (IRI) won gold at 72kg on Wednesday. Mohammadi defeated Abror ATABAEV (UZB), 5-1, in the final.

Mohammadi was awarded the par terre in he first period and he hit a front headlock which was scored two and one more point was awarded for a stepout. But Iran challenged, claiming four points on the throw, which was confirmed on review but the stepout point was removed as it was a push.

After the challenge, Mohammadi led 5-0 and when Atabaev was given par terre in the second period, Mohammadi defended that position with ease and went on to win the gold medal.

Azerbaijan won its second gold medal in Greco-Roman after Elmir ALIYEV (AZE) held off Alibek AMIROV (UWW), 3-2, in the 55kg final. With the win, he also avenged his U23 European Championships semifinals loss to Amirov.

Egypt got its first world title at any level since 2023 and first at U23 in six years after Hassan ABDELREHIM (EGY) blanked Anri KHOZREVANIDZE (GEO), 3-0, in the 67kg. Incidentally, Egypt's other two U23 world titles, both won by Mohamed EL SAYED (EGY) in 2018 and 2019, have come at 67kg.

Alexandrin GUTU (MDA)Alexandrin GUTU (MDA) completes a five-pointer. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Amirreza Aliasgari)

Gutu in third straight final

Alexandrin GUTU (MDA) is a win away from becoming the first three-time U23 world champion after he reached the 82kg final in Novi Sad.

Gutu, wrestling at the U23 Worlds for the fifth time, reached the his fourth straight final after beating Ibrahim TABAEV (BEL) in the semifinals. Gutu won gold medals in 2023 and 2024 and has a silver medal from 2022.

He began with a takedown before adding a stepout for a 3-0 lead. The par terre gave him one more point and he threw Tabaev out-of-bounds for one more point and lead 5-0. The second period saw him add one stepout as he won the semifinal 6-0.

For his third straight gold medal, Gutu will face Ruslan ABDIIEV (UKR) who defeated Data CHKHAIDZE (GEO), 1-1, in the other semifinal, thanks to the first-point criteria in a 1-1 finish.

Koto GOMI (JPN)Koto GOMI (JPN) celebrates after winning the 60kg semifinal against Maxwell BLACK (USA). (Photo: United World Wrestling / Amirreza Aliasgari)

At 60kg, Koto GOMI (JPN) will try to the six-year gold medal drought for Japan after he reached the 60kg final on Wednesday after a dominant performance. He faced Maxwell BLACK (USA) in the semifinals and like his previous bouts, he began by scoring as soon as the match began.

An arm-drag to takedown gave him a 2-0 lead before he got the par terre position and scored three rolls using high gut-wrench and win 9-0.

He will face Sajjad ABBASPOUR (IRI) for gold after he made a remarkable comeback in the final 20 seconds. Down 3-1 against Mehroj BAKHRAMOV (UZB), Abbaspour scored a stepout which was also called fleeing with 13 seconds left. However, Bakhramov still held the criteria at 3-3 as he had a two-point move.

But Abbaspour did not give up and scored another stepout with five seconds left, giving him a match-winning 4-3 lead. Uzbekistan challenged it but only to lose it and add one more point to Abbaspour's score.

The 5-3 defeat left the teenager Bakhramov in tears while the Iran corner celebrated the unexpected win in the semifinals.

U.S. perfect

Audrey JIMINEZ (USA) will get another chance of winning her first-ever world title after she reached the 50kg finals after posting a controlled 5-2 win against Aida KERYMOVA (UKR) in the semifinals. Jiminez, who had four age-group world silver medals, scored a takedown and one turn in the second period to overcome a 2-1 deficit and post the win.

She will face Jinyue LIANG (CHN) for that much-awaited gold after Liang saw off Natalia PUDOVA (UWW) in the other semifinal. Liang scored a takedown in the second period to lead 2-1 and then got in scramble which that scored two points each. She then hit a headlock for four to make the score 8-3, her winning score in the final.

Former U20 world champion Jasmine ROBINSON (USA) reached the final at 72kg with her third technical superiority win in three bouts. She defeated former U17 world champion Veronika VILK (CRO), 10-0, in the semifinals using her trademark double blasts.

Nurzat NURTAEVA (KGZ) will look to stop Robinson from winning her first U23 world title after she reached the final at 72kg after beating Mahiro YOSHITAKE (JPN), 6-3.

Returning champion at 72kg, Kylie WELKER (USA), who moved up to 76kg, reached the final after a 16-6 technical superiority win over Edna JIMENEZ VILLALBA (MEX).

Welker began with a four-pointer before two turns made it 8-0. But Villalba also hit a four-pointer to cut the lead to 8-4. She then had Welker in danger to make it 8-6 bit a reversal and three lace turns tilted the semifinal 15-6 in favor to Welker, who scored a stepout in the second period for the win.

She will take on returning bronze medalist Valeriia TRIFONOVA (UWW) who posted a 4-1 win over Elmira YASIN (TUR) in the other semifinal.

RESULTS

55kg
GOLD: Elmir ALIYEV (AZE) df. Alibek AMIROV (UWW), 3-2

BRONZE: Khojiakbar KUCHKAROV (UZB) df. Armin SHAMSIPOUR (IRI), 8-0
BRONZE: Vishvajit MORE (IND) df. Yerassyl MAMYRBEKOV (KAZ), 5-4

67kg
GOLD: Hassan ABDELREHIM (EGY) df. Anri KHOZREVANIDZE (GEO), 3-0

BRONZE: Ahmadreza MOHSEN NEZHAD (IRI) df. Hleb MAKARANKA (UWW), 7-1
BRONZE: Otto BLACK (USA) df. Attila JOZSA (HUN), via inj. def.

72kg
GOLD: Iman MOHAMMADI (IRI) df. Abror ATABAEV (UZB), 5-1

BRONZE: Ruslan NURULLAYEV (AZE) df. Gaspar TERTERYAN (ARM), 3-1
BRONZE: Merey MAULITKANOV (KAZ) df. Danil GRIGOREV (UWW), 10-0

97kg
GOLD: Yehor YAKUSHENKO (UKR) df. Iussuf MATSIYEV (KAZ), 6-1

BRONZE: Richard KARELSON (EST) df. Abubakar KHASLAKHANAU (UWW), 7-7
BRONZE: Maksim AVERIN (UWW) df. Arshak GEGHAMYAN (ARM), 1-1

Greco-Roman Semifinals

60kg
GOLD: Koto GOMI (JPN) vs. Sajjad ABBASPOUR (IRI)

SF 1: Koto GOMI (JPN) df. Maxwell BLACK (USA), 9-0
SF 2: Sajjad ABBASPOUR (IRI) df. Mehroj BAKHRAMOV (UZB), 5-3

82kg
GOLD: Alexandrin GUTU (MDA) vs. Ruslan ABDIIEV (UKR)

SF 1: Alexandrin GUTU (MDA) df. Ibrahim TABAEV (BEL), 6-0
SF 2: Ruslan ABDIIEV (UKR) df. Data CHKHAIDZE (GEO), 1-1

Women's Wrestling Semifinals

50kg
GOLD: Audrey JIMENEZ (USA) vs. Jinyue LIANG (CHN)

SF 1: Audrey JIMENEZ (USA) df. Aida KERYMOVA (UKR), 5-2
SF 2: Jinyue LIANG (CHN) df. Natalia PUDOVA (UWW), 8-3

72kg
GOLD: Jasmine ROBINSON (USA) vs. Nurzat NURTAEVA (KGZ)

SF 1: Jasmine ROBINSON (USA) df. Veronika VILK (CRO), 10-0 
SF 2: Nurzat NURTAEVA (KGZ) df. Mahiro YOSHITAKE (JPN), 6-3

76kg
GOLD: Valeriia TRIFONOVA (UWW) vs. Kylie WELKER (USA)

SF 1: Valeriia TRIFONOVA (UWW) df. Elmira YASIN (TUR), 4-1
SF 2: Kylie WELKER (USA) df. Edna JIMENEZ VILLALBA (MEX), 16-6