Azerbaijan, Turkey, and Russia Each Place Three into Tuesday's European Freestyle Finals

Monday, April 8, 2019 - 17:25 By Eric Olanowski

BUCHAREST, Romania (April 8) - Azerbaijan, Russia, and Turkey each placed three wrestlers into Tuesday night’s freestyle European finals, but Azerbaijan and Turkey will meet twice in tomorrow’s gold- medal bouts. They’ll wrestle for the top spots at 65kg and 70kg.

At 65kg, Azerbaijan’s three-time world champion Haji ALIYEV and Turkey’s Selahattin KILICSALLAYAN each scored come-from-behind wins to reach the finals.

Aliyev, the defending European champion, trailed 2-0 in his semifinals match, but scored 12 unanswered points and reached the continental finals for the third time in his career. He’s been successful in reaching the top of the podium in his previous two trips to the European finals.

His Turkish opponent Kilicsallayan trailed Ukraine’s Vasyl SHUPTAR 4-1, but outscored him 8-2 and reached the European finals for the first time after scoring the 9-6 victory. Kilicsallayan’s Monday night win helps him improve on his bronze medal finish from a year ago.

Mustafa KAYA (TUR) reached the European finals for the first time since 2016 when he fell short to Italy's Frank CHAMIZO. (Photo: Gabor Martin)

The 70kg weight class featured world champions Magomedrasul GAZIMAGOMEDOV (RUS) and Zurabi IAKOBISHVILI (GEO), but it was Turkey’s Mustafa KAYA and Azerbaijan’s Aghahuseyn MUSTAFAYEV (AZE) who’ll wrestle under the lights on Tuesday night for 70kg gold.

Kaya outlasted 2017 world runner-up Magomedmurad GADZHIEV (POL) in a 12 point shootout, inserting himself into the European finals for the first time since 2016 with the 6-6 criteria win. In his last trip to the European finals, Kaya fell to two-time world champion Frank CHAMIZO (ITA).

Mustafayev, who kicked started his finals run by upsetting reigning world champion Magomedrasul Gazimagomedov in the opening round, capped off his day with a decisive 6-0 shutout over Great Britain’s Nicolae COJOCARU.

Suleyman ATLI (TUR) will wrestle No. 11Muslim SADULAEV (RUS) in the 57kg finals. (Photo: Gabor Martin)

Turkey’s third freestyle finalist came at 57kg, where reigning world bronze medalist Suleyman ATLI (TUR) will meet reigning Ivan Yariguin champion Muslim SADULAEV, who is one of Russia’s three Day Two finalists.

Atli, who’s the second-ranked wrestler in the world at 57kg, had a tougher road to the finals than his Russia finals opponent.

The Turkish wrestler trailed 1-0 after the opening period, but quickly scored a pair of takedowns, one of which he transitioned to a gut wrench and grabbed the 6-1 lead. Atli surrendered three straight points, but answered with a third takedown, locking up his spot in the finals with an 8-4 victory.

His finals opponent Muslim Sadulaev, who is currently ranked No. 11 in the world at 57kg, quieted the friendly Romanian crowd with a rock-solid 10-0 shutout win over Andrei DUKOV (ROU), reaching the continental finals for the first time in his young career.

Russia’s second semifinal winner was Akhmed GADZHIMAGOMEDOV (RUS).

The 2018 world bronze medalist reached the 79kg finals with a heroic 7-0 victory over Ukraine’s Oleksii DOMANYTSKYI (UKR). The Russian seriously injured his right knee 7 seconds into the final period and was forced to drop to one knee for the last three minutes. The Russian brought the local crowd to their feet after he closed out the match with a pair of takedowns and reached the finals with a 7-0 victory over his Ukrainian opponenet.

It’s not clear if Gadzhimagomedov will compete in tomorrow’s gold-medal bout, but if he does, it’ll be against Azerbaijan’s reigning world finalist Jabrayil HASANOV (AZE), who defeated Andrei KARPACH (BLR), 9-4, to reach the European finals for the first time since winning back-to-back titles in 2010 and 2011.

The pound-for-pound best wrestler in the world Abdulrashid SADULAEV was the third and final Russian wrestler to reach Tuesday night’s finals. Sadulaev had an easy time with Magomedgadji NUROV (MKD), ending the match early with a 12-0 victory.

He’ll lace up against reigning European runner-up Aliaksandr HUSHTYN (BLR), who scored a pair of second-period stepouts to knock off 2018 world bronze medalist Elizbar ODIKADZE (GEO), 2-1.

The European Championships resume tomorrow at 11:30 (local time).

RESULTS
57kg
GOLD - Suleyman ATLI (TUR) vs. Muslim SADULAEV (RUS)
SEMIFINAL - Suleyman ATLI (TUR) df. Georgi Valentinov VANGELOV (BUL), 8-4
SEMIFINAL - Muslim SADULAEV (RUS) df. Andrei DUKOV (ROU), 10-0

65kg
GOLD - Haji ALIYEV (AZE) vs. Selahattin KILICSALLAYAN (TUR)
SEMIFINAL - Haji ALIYEV (AZE) df. Maxim SACULTAN (MDA), 12-2
SEMIFINAL - Selahattin KILICSALLAYAN (TUR) df. Vasyl SHUPTAR (UKR), 9-6

70kg
GOLD - Mustafa KAYA (TUR) vs. Aghahuseyn MUSTAFAYEV (AZE)
SEMIFINAL - Mustafa KAYA (TUR) df. Magomedmurad GADZHIEV (POL), 6-6
SEMIFINAL - Aghahuseyn MUSTAFAYEV (AZE) df. Nicolae COJOCARU (GBR), 6-0

79kg
GOLD - Jabrayil HASANOV (AZE) vs. Akhmed GADZHIMAGOMEDOV (RUS)
SEMIFINAL - Jabrayil HASANOV (AZE) df. Andrei KARPACH (BLR), 9-4
SEMIFINAL - Akhmed GADZHIMAGOMEDOV (RUS) df. Oleksii DOMANYTSKYI (UKR), 7-0

97kg
GOLD - Abdulrashid SADULAEV (RUS) vs. Aliaksandr HUSHTYN (BLR)
SEMIFINAL - Aliaksandr HUSHTYN (BLR) df.. Elizbar ODIKADZE (GEO), 2-1
SEMIFINAL - Abdulrashid SADULAEV (RUS) df. Magomedgadji NUROV (MKD), 12-0

SCHEDULE

Tuesday (April 9)
9:30 - Weigh-in FS – 57-65-70-79-97kg
9:45 - Medical Examination & Weigh-in FS – 61-74-86-92-125kg
11:30 - Qualification rounds FS – 61-74-86-92-125kg
11:30 - Repechage FS – 57-65-70-79-97kg
15:00 - Draw WW – 50-55-59-68-76kg
16:15 - Opening Ceremony
17:15 - Semi Final FS – 61-74-86-92-125kg
18:00 - Finals FS – 57-65-70-79-97kg / Award ceremonies

Wednesday (April 10)
9:30 - Weigh-in FS – 61-74-86-92-125kg
9:45 - Medical examination & Weigh-in WW – 50-55-59-68-76kg
11:30 - Qualification rounds WW – 50-55-59-68-76kg
11:30 - Repechage FS – 61-74-86-92-125kg
14:00 - Draw WW – 53-57-62-65-72kg
17:15 - Semi Final WW – 50-55-59-68-76kg
18: 00 - Finals FS – 61-74-86-92-125kg / Award ceremonies

Thursday (April 11)
9:30 - Weigh-in WW – 50-55-59-68-76kg
9:45 - Medical examination & Weigh-in WW – 53-57-62-65-72kg
11:30 - Qualification rounds WW – 53-57-62-65-72kg page4image2914979424 page4image2914979968
14:00 - Repechage WW – 50-55-59-68-76kg
14:00 - Draw GR – 55-63-77-87-130kg
17:15 - Semi Final WW – 53-57-62-65-72kg
18:00 - Finals WW – 50-55-59-68-76kg / Award ceremonies

Friday (April 12)
9:30 - Weigh-in WW – 53-57-62-65-72kg
9:45 - Medical examination & Weigh-in GR – 55-63-77-87-130kg
11:30 - Qualification rounds GR – 55-63-77-87-130kg
11:30 - Repechage WW – 53-57-62-65-72kg
15:40 - Draw GR – 60-67-72-82-97kg
17:15 - Semi Final GR – 55-63-77-87-130kg
18:00 - Finals WW – 53-57-62-65-72kg / Award ceremonies

Saturday (April 13)
9:30 - Weigh-in GR – 55-63-77-87-130kg
9:45 - Medical examination & Weigh-in GR – 60-67-72-82-97kg
11:30 - Qualification rounds GR – 60-67-72-82-97kg
11:30 - Repechage GR – 55-63-77-87-130kg
17:15 - Semi Final GR – 60-67-72-82-97kg
18:00 - Finals GR – 55-63-77-87-130kg / Award ceremonies

Sunday (April 14)
9:30 - Weigh-in GR – 60-67-72-82-97kg
16:00 - Repechage GR – 60-67-72-82-97kg
18:00 - Finals GR – 60-67-72-82-97kg / Award ceremonies

#WrestleTirana

Eltemirov, Pavlov win U23 European golds

Sunday, March 9, 2025 - 23:52 By United World Wrestling Press

TIRANA, Albania (March 9) -- Five months ago, Magomed ELTEMIROV (UWW) left Tirana with a medal around his neck, but the one that left a bitter aftertaste: A silver at the U23 World Championship.

That evening, he was defeated in a tense final by Magomed KHANIYEV (AZE). On Sunday, he made amends and although it wasn’t by defeating Khaniyev, Eltemirov walloped another Azerbaijani wrestler, Kanan HEYBATOV (AZE), to win his maiden U23 European Championship gold medal.

Eltemirov looked charged up even before his name was announced. He sprinted to the center and got down to business without wasting a second. After going up by a point following Heybatov’s failed challenge asking for a stepout, Eltemirov built a comfortable three-point cushion going into the break with a razor-sharp leg attack.

He never took his foot off the pedal as within 30 seconds of restart, Eltemirov threw Khaniyev on the mat using an underhook for two more points and seconds later, summoned all his upper-body strength to execute an over-under throw for four after his attempted ankle pick failed.

Heybatov attempted a desperate single-leg attack which Eltemirov blocked and when Heybatov tried a counter lift, Eltermirov scored exposure to finish the match 11-0 with 1:25 remaining on the clock.

Lev PAVLOV (UWW) hits a match-winning cradle on Nika ZANGALADZE (GEO) in the 57kg final. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kostadin Andonov)

The 21-year-old led a procession of wrestlers representing the UWW to the top of the podium and most dominated. Another wrestler to win his first U23 European title was Lev PAVLOV (UWW), a multiple time age-group world medalist.

For close to five minutes and 30 seconds, not much happened in the 57kg freestyle final between Pavlov and Nika ZANGALADZE (GEO). Then, in a frenzied end, everything happened all at once: two stunning takedowns, dogged defending and a desperate bid to snatch a win from the jaws of defeat.

Ultimately, Pavlov won 6-1 to take home the first gold medal of the U23 European Championships in Tirana. The scoreline, however, barely suggests how close the bout was.

Both wrestlers traded passivity points — Zangaladze was penalised first before Pavlov was docked a point in the second period. It stayed 1-1 until the last 30 seconds when the match exploded.

With his super-quick reflexes, Pavlov scored a duck-under to cradle for a takedown and transitioned into arm-trap roll for two more points. That swung the momentum in his favor and then defended strongly to emerge victorious.

Arsen BALAIAN (UWW) survived a last-minute attack from Farid JABBAROV (AZE) to secure the 79kg gold medal. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kostadin Andonov)

The evening’s fourth final, between Arsen BALAIAN (UWW) and Farid JABBAROV (AZE) at 79kg followed a similar pattern, wherein both wrestlers were cautioned — and penalized a point each — for passivity.

Balaian, who had two bronze medals in the U23 category last year in Europe and Worlds, began the second round a point down. However, he overturned the scoreline and made it 2-1 by winning two passivity points of his own. With only 41 seconds remaining in the match when he went into the lead, Balaian could have opted for a strong defence.

He tried that and was nearly caught out when Jabbarov got hold of his left leg with only 10 seconds left to play. But a steely Balaian refused to give up and instead turned around the position, gained control and exposed Jabbarov to go 4-1 up. Jabbarev challenged the final move but it was ruled against him, handing Balaian the title after two near-misses.

Amal DZHANDUBAEV (UWW) secured the 65kg gold over Abdullah TOPRAK (TUR). (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kadir Caliskan)

At 65kg, Amal DZHANDUBAEV (UWW) had to fight back with all his might to secure the title. At the midway point of the gold medal bout, it looked like Dzhandubaev will comfortably win as he had a 5-0 lead but Abdullah TOPRAK (TUR) used a seatbelt throw for four to make score 5-4.

But Dzhandubaev did not falter even after the throw and kept his attacks, scored a stepout to make it 6-4. Defending that lead for final seconds, Dzhandubaev secured the gold, four years after he was crowned the U17 European champion.

At 97kg, Uladzislau KAZLOU (UWW) edging past Bady SAMDAN (UWW) 2-1 to reign supreme in the 97 kg category. Samdan had a 1-0 lead but Kazlou scored a stepout to lead 1-1 on criteria at the break. In the second period, Samdan was put on the 30-second activity clock in which he failed to score, handing Kazlou the win.

Rakhim MAGAMADOV (FRA) celebrates after beating Arslan BAGAEV (UWW) in the semifinal. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kostadin Andonov)

Magamadov eyes gold

After two failures to get past him in 2024, Rakhim MAGAMADOV (FRA) managed to beat Arslan BAGAEV (UWW) in the 86kg semifinals on Sunday. He shut Bagaev down for a 6-0 lead. Magamadov had lost to Bagaev in the U23 Euro final and the World Military Championships final in 2024.

He will face U23 world silver medalist Arsenii DZHIOEV (AZE) for the gold medal. The Azerbaijan wrestler had lost to Bagaev in the final of the U23 Worlds last year.

Volodymyr KOCHANOV (UKR) will be hoping to win Ukraine’s first gold medal of the U23 European Championship when he takes on Georgi IVANOV (BUL) in the 125kg final.

Kochanov has two U23 medals but on both occasions — he won European U23 silver in 2023 and U23 Worlds bronze last year — fell short of a top-of-the-podium finish. The final against Ivanov offers him that chance and to avenge his 2023 U23 Euro final loss to the Bulgarian.

RESULTS

57kg
GOLD: Lev PAVLOV (UWW) df. Nika ZANGALADZE (GEO), 6-1

BRONZE: Bekir KESER (TUR) df. Ion BULGARU (MDA), 18-14
BRONZE: Rahman IMANOV (AZE) df. Vladyslav ABRAMOV (UKR), 8-6

65kg
GOLD: Amal DZHANDUBAEV (UWW) df. Abdullah TOPRAK (TUR), 6-4

BRONZE: Khamzat ARSAMERZOUEV (FRA) df. Hayk ABRAHAMYAN (ARM), 3-2
BRONZE: Murad HAGVERDIYEV (AZE) df. Fiodor CEAVDARI (MDA), 9-6

70kg
GOLD: Magomed ELTEMIROV (UWW) df. Kanan HEYBATOV (AZE), 11-0

BRONZE: Umut ERDOGAN (TUR) df. Pavel GRAUR (MDA), 5-1
BRONZE: Narek POHOSIAN (UKR) df. Muhammad ABDURACHMANOV (BEL), 2-0

79kg
GOLD: Arsen BALAIAN (UWW) df. Farid JABBAROV (AZE), 5-1

BRONZE: Ibrahim YAPRAK (TUR) df. Aykan SEID (BUL), 11-0
BRONZE: Umar MAVLAEV (SUI) df. Giorgi GOGRITCHIANI (GEO), 8-7

97kg
GOLD: Uladzislau KAZLOU (UWW) df. Bady SAMDAN (UWW), 2-1

BRONZE: Resul GUNE (TUR) df. Adam JAKSIK (SVK), via fall
BRONZE: David MCHEDLIDZE (UKR) df. Nikolaos KARAVANOS (GRE), 6-1

Semifinals

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

SF 1: Jeyhun ALLAHVERDIYEV (AZE) df. Besir ALILI (MKD), 5-4
SF 2: Levik MIKAYELYAN (ARM) df. Mykyta ABRAMOV (UKR), 11-1

74kg
GOLD: Aghanazar NOVRUZOV (AZE) vs. Ismail KHANIEV (UWW)

SF 1: Aghanazar NOVRUZOV (AZE) df. Manuel WAGIN (GER), 4-2
SF 2: Ismail KHANIEV (UWW) df. Bohdan OLIINYK (UKR), 10-0

86kg
GOLD: Arsenii DZHIOEV (AZE) vs. Rakhim MAGAMADOV (FRA)

SF 1: Arsenii DZHIOEV (AZE) df. Radomir STOYANOV (BUL), via fall
SF 2: Rakhim MAGAMADOV (FRA) df. Arslan BAGAEV (UWW), 6-0

92kg
GOLD: Knyaz IBOYAN (ARM) vs. Mukhamed KHANIEV (UWW)

SF 1: Knyaz IBOYAN (ARM) df. Denys SAHALIUK (UKR), 10-0
SF 2: Mukhamed KHANIEV (UWW) df. Sadig MUSTAFAZADE (AZE), 12-1

125kg
GOLD: Volodymyr KOCHANOV (UKR) vs. Georgi IVANOV (BUL)

SF 1: Volodymyr KOCHANOV (UKR) df. Khachatur KHACHATRYAN (ARM), 10-0
SF 2: Georgi IVANOV (BUL) df. Efe AL (TUR), via fall (12-1)

Azerbaijan, Turkey, and Russia Each Place Three into Tuesday's European Freestyle Finals

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Eltemirov, Pavlov win U23 European golds