Beach wrestling

Action-Packed Day One at Beach Wrestling Worlds

By Marc Berman

SARIGERME, Turkey (October 6th and 7th) --  The sun has set over the beach in Turkey as day one of the 2018 Beach Wrestling World Championships has come to an end. 

Qualification rounds took place for Cadet, Junior and Senior divisions today, setting the stage for tomorrow's thrilling finals matches.

With temperatures reaching 30 degree celsius defending champion Semen RADULOV (UKR) defeated Turkish opponents in both of his matches today at 70kg without being scored against. Tomorrow, Radulov will open the day with Vegard STROEM (NOR) in his first match and setting up a possible collision with Konstantine KHABALASHVILI (GEO) who also went undefeated today with just one point scored against him.

Jakob MAKARASHVILI (GEO) won three matches today in impressive fashion at 80kg and will take on teammate Jumber KVELASHVILI (GEO) in the semifinals. The other semifinal will be Vasyl MYKHAILOV (UKR) against Efe Sami UNAL (TUR). Unal fell to Mykhail in the group round in a tight match, 2-1.

The returning 90kg champion Muhammad INAM (PAK) picked up where he left off last year cruising past both his opponents and will now face Mihai Nicolae PALAGHIA (ROU) in his third qualifying match. Patrik PUESPOEKI (HUN) went 1-1 on the day but pulled of the upset of Chris BORG (NOR) 3-0 and takes on Borg’s fellow countryman John Harald Foss FJELDBU (NOR) in his 3rd group match on Sunday.

The heavyweight title just may stay in Turkey with Baki SAHIN (TUR) and Irfan METE (TUR) both making the semifinal. Sahin faces scrappy Niazi IMPIS (GRE) and Mete takes on Rares Daniel CHINTOAN (ROU) in the other semifinal. Chintoan was a force on day one going undefeated in three matches.

In women’s action, Kamila BARBOSA VITO DA SILVA (BRA) takes on Sevil ALIOGLU (TUR) while Maria Alexandra CIOCLEA (ROU) will face teammate Stefania Claudia PRICEPUTU (ROU) in the 50kg semifinals. Barbosa and Aliogl are lined up for an exciting match as both athletes were in top form on Saturday. The winner could be the 2018 gold medalist at 50kg.

Reigning 60kg champion Francesca INDELICATO (ITA) is a star in the making, looking to take home her second world title in as many years. Indelicato ran into some trouble against Camila FAMA TRISTAO (BRA) in a round 2 match up. Indelicato was down by one point late before scoring a takedown in the closing seconds of the match for the victory. First-timer Jeannie Agnes KESSLER (AUT) will look to stop Indelicato run of making it two-in-a-row in the semifinals.

All eyes are on team Norway at 70kg as countrywomen Charlotte SKAUEN (NOR) and Cesilie Hoeivik MAGNUSSEN (NOR) will face off in a semifinal match. The Norwegians were dominate all day with a 5-1 record with Skauen winning her three matches with no points scored against. She brings a physicality that has yet to be stopped this weekend. On the other side of the bracket Beatrice DUKOV OANCEA (ROU) and Adina Elena POPESCU (ROU) will face off.

Aikaterini Eirini PITSIAVA (GRE) is the last roadblock in the way of the heavyweight title going home with team Romania. Pitsiava had 3 matches today defeating two Turkish opponents and Adina Ionela IRIMIA (ROU), the youngest competitor in the women’s Seniors. If Irimia can win her semifinal match, we could see a rematch in the final.

Match by match results can be found here: https://bit.ly/2zVYfgB

Day 2 will start 7am GMT tomorrow, watch the live stream on United World Wrestling

 

#WrestleTirana

European Championships 2026 Day 4 Women's Wrestling Highlights

By Vinay Siwach

TIRANA, Albania (April 23) -- The fourth day of the European Championships will see five Women's Wrestling weight classes -- 53kg, 57kg, 62kg, 65kg, 72kg.

WATCH LIVE | LIVE MATCH ORDER | SADULAEV's RETURN TO EUROPEANS

UWW Plus

12:30: Buse TOSUN (TUR) in a tangle against U23 European champion Viktoryia RADZKOVA (UWW) but she comes out on top and then pins her way to the 72kg quarterfinals.

12:20: Iryna KOLIADENKO (UKR) laces Iris Mathilde THIEBAUX (FRA) and finishes her 65kg quarterfinals 10-0 and in quick time.

12:15: Defending champion Maria PREVOLARAKI (GRE) begins with a technical superiority win over Annika WENDLE (GER). She won the gold medal at 53kg last year, on her 14th attempt at the European Championships.

12:05: Jonna MALMGREN (SWE), who lost the 2024 European final to Vanesa KALADZINSKAYA (UWW), falls to her again, this time 12-5 at 53kg. Kaladzinskaya counter an attack from Malmgren to open the scoring and exposure points gave her a 4-0 lead. Sweden's lost challenge made it 5-0. Malmgren got on a couple of attacks but Kaladzinskaya hit a headlock throw for four which gave her a 9-3 lead. A lot of scramble in the bout but it was always Kaladzinskaya who finished them and Malmgren only got a clean takedown at the end, too little too late.

11:55: Mariia YEFREMOVA (UKR) ends the fairytale of Carla JAUME SOLER (ESP) at 53kg with a fall. Yefremova now reaches the semifinals.

11:35: Magdalena GLODEK (POL) with a counter body throw against Solomiia VYNNYK (UKR) and then keeps her on the mat for a fall. Vynnyk is left stunned.

11:25: Carla JAUME SOLER (ESP) stuns Zeynep YETGIL (TUR) at 53kg! The Spain wrestler, first from the country to ever reach a World Championships final, got on a single leg attack in the second period and then arched Yetgil on the mat. Yetgil fouled with hands in Soler's face but she couldn't avoid the fall.

11:22: Mariia YEFREMOVA (UKR), returning to competition after two years, starts her senior debut with a 5-1 victory over Natalia MALYSHEVA (UWW) at 53kg.

11:15: Grace BULLEN (NOR), returning champion at 65kg but now down at 62kg, starts slow against Ameline DOUARRE (FRA) but manages to complete a technical superiority 10-0 victory.

11:10: Johanna LINDBORG (SWE), the returning silver medalist at 62kg, starts off with a clinical 10-0 win over Amina CAPEZAN (ROU). She hit a beautiful four-pointer to start the bout before scoring via three different takedowns.

10:55: High-scoring affair at 57kg between Aryna DZEMCHANKA MARTYNAVA (UWW) and Aleksandra SKIRENKO (UWW). Martynava opened with a huge double for four before Skirenko caught a leg attack to score two. In the second period, Martynava countered Skirenko, slamming her on the mat for two points to extend her lead to 6-2. Skirenko got two points after winning a challenge as she had blocked a headlock throw from Martynava. As the bout resumed in par terre, Martynava escaped and score counter exposure for two points before giving up a counter herself as well. Martynanva, leading 8-6, was driven by Skirenko towards the zone and she thought she had a stepout but Martynava circled back and both wrestled scored exposure points, giving Martynava a 10-8 lead. Skirenko challenged for fleeing at the end but lost it which added another point to Martynava who won 11-8

10:45: Solomiia VYNNYK (UKR) blanks Iulia LEORDA (MDA), 7-0, in their opening bout at 57kg. Vynnyk blocks an arm throw from Leorda to score a takedown during Leorda's activity time to lead 3-0. She uses a lace turn to go up 5-0. The final takedown came in the last 10 seconds which gave her the win.

10:30: Five more Women's Wrestling weight classes in action at the European Championships on Thursday.