#BeachWrestlingWorldSeries

Beach Wrestling back in the fast lane as wrestling’s fastest growing discipline returns for 2022 World Series

Thursday, April 28, 2022 - 13:01 By United World Wrestling Press

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COSIER-VEVEY, Switzerland (April 27) --- Increasing from 4 to 5 events, the Beach Wrestling World Series continues to gather popularity with its incredible athleticism, non-stop action, easy to understand points system and rules, as well as recognition from the world of sports.

Already the fastest growing discipline in the United Word Wrestling (UWW) calendar, the wrestlers will be hitting the beaches on the May 28 and 29 as the sand superstars get the season underway in Ortaca, Turkey on Sarigerme Beach.

Then the series will head to Sanxenxo, Spain where the sands of Silgar Beach will be flying on June 18 abd 19.

The third stop sees the series move on to sensational Saint Laurent du Var and Cousteau Beach in France on the July 1 and 2.

The penultimate event on Paralia Beach in Katerini, Greece, on July 9 and 10 should already provide a clearer picture of who the kings and queens of the sands may well be, before the finale, and also World Championship on September 3 and 4. Following a pulsating 2021 finale, the Beach Wrestling World Champions will once again be crowned on magical Mamaia Beach in Constanta, Romania.

As well as the winners of the World Championships, and with four times the ranking points on offer it could see a dark horse emerge to take home the gold.

Last season's +90KG men’s World Series runner up and head coach of the Azerbaijani Beach Wrestling Oyan Nazariani is looking to go one better this year and reclaim the title he won in 2019. Having lost out last year by a tiny margin, the 28-year-old athlete has high hopes both for his own chances, but also for his team who have spent the off season working hard in Baku.

A very popular athlete on the tour, the ‘Big Gun’ said: “Beach Wrestling, for me, is a great way for people who are new to wrestling to come along and watch, it is really easy to understand with simple rules although for the athletes it is a lot tougher than it looks,as trust me it’s not easy to wrestle in the sand”. He continues, “I have been working hard alongside my team-mates over the winterand I’m coming to reclaim the Series gold medal. It would also be a dream for me for my team to be the best overall country in the series and take home the world championship!”

In the women’s, Francesca Indelicato is the current -60kg queen of the sand, having become the first Italian Beach Wrestling world champion, winning the event in Constanta last season, which, along with silver medals in France and Italy was enough for her to pip Ukrainian Anastasiya Kravchenko to the title. She hopes to lock horns with her again this series. “I hope this war can end as soon as possible and that the people affected by it have the right to go back to doing what they love.”

The 27-year-old university graduate is also determined to get as many ranking points as possible this series to keep her dream alive of taking the Beach Games by storm, and of course retain her title: “I will strive to keep my ranking scores high as I want to give all of myself to make sure I have the best chance of keeping my title and give me the opportunity to win at the next edition of the World Beach Games in 2023.”

The Beach Wrestling World Series is popular with fans and athletes alike with its party atmosphere as the sun shines down on the sand stars, the music playing and the ooohs and ahhhs of the crowd as the sands fly alongside the wrestlers as they go for gold.

The adrenaline filled action helps feed the vibe and it’s easy to see why the crowds sandside continue to grow with each event. With Beach Wrestling being named one of ANOC’s Beach Games core disciplines for 2023 and 2025 the popularity of the sport is sure to continue to grow at the rapid rate it has so far.

There are four different weight categories for both the men and women in beach wrestling, with the men competing in -70kg, -80kg, -90kg and +90kg, with the women competing in -50kg, -60kg, -70kg and +70kg, each bout lasting three frantic minutes, or first to 3 points.

A takedown or pushing your opponent out of the sandy circle is judged as 1 point, however, if you pin your opponent’s shoulder to the sand on a takedown its 3 points, and this means that no bout is ever over until the winners’ hand is raised, as we seen last season with some amazing comeback wins in the final seconds of bouts.

In the event of a tie, the wrestler who has scored the last point of the bout will take the win, and where 0-0 is the score after 3 minutes of action, the lighter of the two competitors will be given the victory.

The UWW have put prize money of 1000CHF for the gold medalists, 500CHF for silver medalists and 250CHF for the bronze medalists as well as the ‘Top Technique’ award for the best move over the weekend, voted for by the fans, which sees the winners take home 1000CHF for each gender.

Who will take home the gold this series? Will the Glorious Georgians go on another Gold Run? Will anyone be able to match Romania’s 50kg ‘heavyweight’ Princeputu? Can Team USA make an impression on this year’s event? It’s anyone’s guess as we head towards the start of the series with competitors from all over the world gearing up for the biggest Beach Wrestling World Series to date.

Tune in to see how the drama unfolds and who will be the sand kings and queens come September in Constanta.

Dates & Locations, Beach Wrestling World Series 2022
28-29 May – Ortaca (TUR) | Sarigerme Beach|
18-19 June – Sanxenxo (ESP) | Silgar Beach
01-02 July - Saint Laurent du Var (FRA) | Cousteau Beach
09-10 July - Katerini (GRE) | Paralia Beach
03-04 September - Constanta (ROU) | Mamaia Beach

#WrestleBratislava

European history for Serbia; Matcharashvili makes 3rd straight final

Monday, April 7, 2025 - 17:44 By Vinay Siwach

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BRATISLAVA, Slovakia (April 7) -- Paris silver medalist and defending 97kg champion Givi MATCHARASHVILI (GEO) posted his photo on Instagram last week and captioned it: "I declare the hunting season open."

Two weeks later, Matcharashvili is doing exactly that. He marked the start of the season at 97kg by making it to his third European Championships final in Bratislava.

The first day of the European Championships, which got underway at the X-Bionic Sphere on Monday, turned out to be historic for Serbia as it got its first-ever Freestyle finalist at the European Championships and France ended its drought of missing out on the finals.

Matcharashvili, who participated in the Zagreb Open at 125kg, returned to his preferred 97kg and spent only 4 minutes and 45 seconds in his two bouts in Bratislava to make the final.

In the semifinal, Richard VEGH (HUN) failed to challenge Matcharashvili who scored a takedown and four gut-wrenches to post 10-0 technical superiority in just a minute and 24 seconds.

Matcharashvili has never lost at the European Championships, winning two back-to-back golds in 2023 and 2024. He is a step closer to a third straight gold medal and will take on Magomed KURBANOV (UWW) for it.

Kurbanov, a former European champion at 92kg, had to tougher path to the final. He scored a 5-2 win over Radu LEFTER (MDA) in the other semifinal. He was ahead 3-0 but got surprised by a Lefter front headlock exposure for two. However, Kurbanov recovered and scored a match-winning takedown to win and book a spot in the final.

Kurbanov was a late replacement for Abdulrashid SADULAEV (UWW) at 97kg after Sadulaev failed to travel to Bratislava with the team

Azamat TUSKAEV (SRB)Azamat TUSKAEV (SRB) became the first Serbian Freestyle wrestler to enter final of European Championships. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kostadin Andonov)

History for Serbia

Azamat TUSKAEV (SRB) created history for Serbia when he reached the 57kg final, becoming the first Freestyle wrestler from the country to make it to the final.

The 2020 European champion for Russia, Tuskaev switched to Serbia in 2024 and returned to the final after five years. He will face Nachyn MONGUSH (UWW) for the gold medal bout at 57kg.

In the semifinal, Tuskaev defeated Aryian TIUTRIN (UWW), 3-1, after the two were put on 30-second activity clocks. Tuskaev scored a stepout in addition to the activity clock point to take the lead in the final minute of the bout. Tiutrin tried to get the one point for a criteria win but failed to break Tuskaev's defense.

Mongush blanked Islam BAZARGANOV (AZE) 5-0 in the other semifinal which he controlled for full six minutes. He got on the scoreboard when Bazarganov as cautioned for one point for hitting him with open hands.

Bazarganov was on activity clock when he was cautioned and as the clock expired, Mongush led 2-0. Mongush added two stepouts to make it 4-0 at the break before another activity lock point in the second period was enough for a 5-0 win for Mongush.

Khamzat ARSAMERZOUEV (FRA)Khamzat ARSAMERZOUEV (FRA) tries to defend an attack from Ali RAHIMZADA (AZE) in the 65kg semifinal. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kadir Caliskan)

France also had something to rejoice as two wrestlers reached the finals, ending a four-year drought of a finalist in Freestyle. Young star Khamzat ARSAMERZOUEV (FRA) and veteran Zelimkhan KHADJIEV (FRA) booked finals spot for France at 70kg and 79kg respectively, putting the nation in the finals for the first time since 2021.

However, their path to gold will be tricky.

Arsamerzouev will have the repeat of the European U23 Championships from 2024 and face two-time world U23 champion Ibragim IBRAGIMOV (UWW) for the 65kg gold medal. Ibragimov won that bout 6-2 for the gold medal.

The French wrestler barely made it to the final as Ali RAHIMZADA (AZE) had him in a tangle in the final 10 seconds and scored an exposure. However, Arsamerzouev also got two points for exposure to win 4-3.

Rahimzada had fallen behind 2-1 earlier when challenged for a stepout but lost the challenge, denying him any other opportunity to challenge in the match.

Ibragimov rolled into the 65kg final on his senior European Championships debut with a stunning 11-0 win over Goga OTINASHVILI (GEO) in the semifinal. He led 1-0 at the break for Otinashvili's passivity but second period saw Ibragimov break into action as he defended a leg attack and countered with a takedown. He scored two turns using gut-wrench and leg lace to lead 7-0. A go-behind takedown put him 9-0 ahead before an easy turn got him into the final 11-0.

While this was a dominant win, Ibragimov pulled off an incredible comeback against former European champion Vazgen TEVANYAN (ARM) in the quarterfinal, beating him 3-2. Tevanyan led 2-1 with 90 seconds remaining on the clock but Ibragimov hit a collar-tie snap to score a takedown and take a 3-2 lead which he defended till the end.

Zelimkhan KHADJIEV (FRA)Zelimkhan KHADJIEV (FRA) defeated Ion MARCU (MDA) 7-0 in the 79kg semifinal. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kadir Caliskan)

For Khadjiev, a two-time silver medalist, world 79kg champion Akhmed USMANOV (UWW) stands between him and the gold medal which Khadjiev lost in 2018 and 2019 after losing in two straight finals.

The 30-year-old broke Ion MARCU (MDA) down with his attacking style and claimed a 7-0 victory in the semifinal. Khadjiev had two stepouts, an activity clock point and two takedowns in his win.

"It was really tough," Khadjiev said. "Three years ago I went to Oklahoma State [University] to train and even young wrestlers were beating easily. But I didn’t give up. I wanted to win something."

While there have been many instances of Khadjiev losing in the final seconds earlier in his career, the 2025 season has begun on a positive note for the French.

He won the Zagreb Open in January and is now a win away from his first gold medal at the European Championships. Khadjiev put the success on wrestling more 'professionally.'

"I can say that now my wrestling in more mature," he said. "I don’t risk it or do something aimlessly. I even watch the matches of my opponents, try to analyze them. I never did that before. I would say I wrestle more professionally now."

Akhmed USMANOV (UWW)Akhmed USMANOV (UWW) defends an attack from Mohammad MOTTAGHINIA (ESP) in the 79kg semifinal. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kadir Caliskan)

If he watched Usmanov's wrestling videos from Monday, Khadjiev may think he has a chance. Usmanov was a shadow of himself from the 2023 World Championships. Though he reached the final, Usmanov never got going, winning the final 7-0 against Mohammad MOTTAGHINIA (ESP) with his counter wrestling.

In the quarterfinal, Usmanov barely managed to sneak through against former European champion Vasyl MYKHAILOV (UKR). Usmanov was trailing 1-1 on criteria after the two wrestlers failed to score in the activity periods. In the final minute of the bout, Mykhailov was put on the activity clock for the second time. He failed to score, giving Usmanov a 2-1 lead which he defended for the final 28 seconds and secured the win.

European Championships debutant David BAEV (UWW), wrestling internationally for the first time since winning the world gold in 2019, booked spot in the 70kg final with a cautious 3-0 win over Kanan HEYBATOV (AZE) in the semifinal.

In his opening bout, he defeated world 65kg champion Iszmail MUSZUKAJEV (HUN) rather easily with a score of 10-0.

Baev will take on defending champion Arman ANDREASYAN (ARM) for the gold medal after the Armenian managed to hang on for a 3-1 win over Akaki KEMERTELIDZE (GEO).

Andreasyan scored takedown and got a point for Kemertelidze's passivity which took him to his third European final.

Photo

RESULTS

Freestyle Semifinals

57kg
GOLD: Azamat TUSKAEV (SRB) vs. Nachyn MONGUSH (UWW)

SF 1: Nachyn MONGUSH (UWW) df. Islam BAZARGANOV (AZE), 5-0
SF 2: Azamat TUSKAEV (SRB) df. Aryian TIUTRIN (UWW), 3-1

65kg
GOLD: Ibragim IBRAGIMOV (UWW) vs. Khamzat ARSAMERZOUEV (FRA)

SF 1: Khamzat ARSAMERZOUEV (FRA) df. Ali RAHIMZADA (AZE), 4-3
SF 2: Ibragim IBRAGIMOV (UWW) df. Goga OTINASHVILI (GEO), 11-0

70kg
GOLD: Arman ANDREASYAN (ARM) vs. David BAEV (UWW)

SF 1: David BAEV (UWW) df. Kanan HEYBATOV (AZE), 3-0
SF 2: Arman ANDREASYAN (ARM) df. Akaki KEMERTELIDZE (GEO), 3-1

79kg
GOLD: Zelimkhan KHADJIEV (FRA) vs. Akhmed USMANOV (UWW)

SF 1: Zelimkhan KHADJIEV (FRA) df. Ion MARCU (MDA), 7-0
SF 2: Akhmed USMANOV (UWW) df. Mohammad MOTTAGHINIA (ESP), 7-0

97kg
GOLD: Givi MATCHARASHVILI (GEO) vs. Magomed KURBANOV (UWW)

SF 1: Givi MATCHARASHVILI (GEO) df. Richard VEGH (HUN), 10-0
SF 2: Magomed KURBANOV (UWW) df. Radu LEFTER (MDA), 5-2